Art Glass: Glasstress Boca Raton 2021 - Until September 5 2021

From a media release:

Art Glass:
Glasstress Boca Raton 2021
On view until September 5, 2021

From Europe to America, the world premiere of this major international show has landed on the shores of the U.S. after three years of preparation. "Glasstress 2021 Boca Raton" is on view through September 5th -- featuring free virtual programs for the global public to enjoy online.


Among the 34 artists in this new exhibition:

Ai Weiwei, Fred Wilson, Joyce J. Scott, Jimmie Durham, Ugo Rondinone, Fiona Banner, Vik Muniz, Monica Bonvicini, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Laure Prouvost, Renate Bertlmann, Thomas Schütte, and Erwin Wurm. Most of these works have never been seen elsewhere.

Three years in the making, with 2020 being such a challenging year to coordinate an international exhibition of this size and scope due to the pandemic, this effort serves as an important reassurance that art is an essential and enduring part of humanity.

This Glasstress 2021 exhibition is also a tribute to the resilience of Venice’s surviving the floods, and continuing to make art through the pandemic.

Ai Wei Wei - glass art

Above: the artist Ai Weiwei with his massive glass-blown sculpture "Blossom Chandelier," in Venice. The large-scale installation bursts with unexpected shapes emanating from white glass flowers to surprise the eye: menacing handcuffs, twitter birds, security cameras, and the artist’s own hands flashing his middle finger (his angry response to the Chinese government that imprisoned him). Photo by Karolina Sobel.

Some of the works were created during the pandemic lockdowns, with artists collaborating remotely via Zoom with their glass artisan partners in Italy, after initial on-site work at the glassmaking studio in Venice. 

Monica Bonvicini works on her glass artwork "Bonded"

Above: the Italian artist Monica Bonvicini works on her glass artwork "Bonded" at the Berengo glass studio in Venice, Italy.

Some of the world's leading contemporary artists were invited to breathe new life into centuries-old glassmaking in Venice to create these new works ― maestros of glassblowing from the legendary Berengo Studio residency helped these art stars manifest their visions.

The exhibition presents 34 new works that explore some of today’s pressing subjects, including human rights, the pandemic, climate change, racial justice, gender issues and politics.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art has dedicated more than 6,500 square feet of exhibition space to this collection. A fully illustrated printed catalogue is also available.

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