Chihuly glass art at Union Station
ONLY HERE It’s no surprise that Tacoma, the hometown of renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, is awash with sculpted silica forms and blown-glass beauties. At the Museum of Glass, the stainless steel hot-shop cone is a masterpiece in itself, but inside, attendees can watch resident artists pull molten glass from 2,400-degree furnaces to create works of art before their eyes. Outside, stroll across the 500-foot-long Chihuly Bridge of Glass to see 2,364 Chihuly masterpieces adorning the ceiling and a 109-sculpture display with some of the world’s largest blown-glass works. Between sessions, attendees can explore on their own with a cellphone walking tour from Tacoma Art Museum (dial 888-411-4220) that takes them to see Union Station’s blossom-like Persians, the University of Washington
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Tacoma Library’s red chandelier, and The Swiss Restaurant + Pub’s brightly colored glass sculptures. Want to offer a hands-on option? Area 253 Glassblowing and Tacoma Glassblowing Studio host team-building workshops, where board members can learn how to fuse, blow, and tease glass into a keepsake work of art. A try-it-yourself hot-shop session is also a unique experience for small groups. Area 253 Glassblowing
Area 253 Glassblowing 2514 S Holgate St; 253-779-0101; area253glassblowing.com / Chihuly Bridge of Glass 1801 Dock St; open 24/7 / Museum of Glass 1801 Dock St; 866-468-7386; museumofglass.org / The Swiss Restaurant + Pub 1904 S Jefferson Ave; 253-572-2821; theswisspub.com / Tacoma Art Museum 1701 Pacific Ave; 253-272-4258; tacomaartmuseum.org / Tacoma Glassblowing Studio 114 S 23rd St; 253-383-3499; tacomaglassblowing.com / Union Station 1717 Pacific Ave; Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm / University of Washington Tacoma Library 1900 Commerce St; 253-692-4440; tacoma.uw.edu/library
4 + TRAVEL TACOMA + PIERCE COUNTY 2013–14
from top: COURTESY TACOMA REGIONAL CONVENTION + VISITOR BUREAU, courtesy area 253 glassblowing
GLASS ART