The rain causes us Seattleites to do many crazy things. We are always inside, so what do we do with all of this indoor time? Invent Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Amazon–just a few companies that were caused by this incessant rain. Multi-billion dollar industries aside, Seattle is also the epi-center for a more unique kind of industry: glass art. Many Seattleites automatically think of Dale Chihuly when hearing of glass art, but I think of my first experience with glass art completely differently.
In my first few years in Seattle, I was encouraged to attend the Pioneer Square Art Walk (occurring the first Thursday of every month, the art walk appears in neighborhoods across Seattle on various days of the month). Casual, yet distinctly cultured, the art walk is accessible for a variety of art-lovers. Whether someone prefers a more casual and urban art experience or a historic and time-tested scene, there are endless options.
Walking through historic Pioneer Square, the sun was slightly shedding rays over Puget Sound. I was gazing at brick buildings with iron detailing, listening to the solo violinist play covers of famous slow jazz pieces, and decided to wander into a gallery filled with people and sharp colors.
This was none other than The Glasshouse, an art glass gallery with glass vases, flowers, animals, trays- all created in bursting colors. In the rear of the gallery, the glass artists often exhibit how their work is done- especially on Art Walk nights. Pressed up against the windows, viewers crane their necks to see the glowing sand turn into a long-necked swan or bottle.
It is one thing to see a finished work of art, but watching the precision, dedication and creativity that is required to make it gives the viewer a new point of view of the finished product. By giving the gallery frequenter a more intimate perspective of the behind-the-scenes artist, a certain veil of mystery is lifted that reveals the specific beauty of the art in process rather than the just the final piece of work.
