Dale, I loved the “the art of meeting people’s needs” line. It actually got me thinking about our art. So after writing about the Neddy Fellowship the other day I took a little tour of our collection. I’d never done that if you can believe it! I recommend it, especially to any employees like me who really checked it out.

Here are some of my favorites. In case you want to include them in your itinerary.

Grand Corridor
Specimen Block by Steffen Dam: It’s like a puzzle that you could look at for hours.

Lobby
Fish Lures by Rick Beck: They’re just fun. I’m lucky I can seem them all day from reception.

Floor 4, Bite Restaurant
Totem by Costas Varotsos: It’s amazing the way he managed to use both glass and stainless steel.

Floor 24

Iceberg by Peter Bremers: This one is incredible because of all the research he did. See the pictures showing his process.

Visit us and you’re sure to find some favorites of your own!

Have fun,
Danielle

Here in Tacoma we’re rather proud of our glass art tradition, and rightfully so. It’s a world-class act. Visitors explore our hallways and frequently exclaim that they never realized that glass art could be anything more than blown-glass baubles and church windows. Another great opportunity to see yet another use of glass as an art medium is happening right now at the Museum of Glass. The show, “White Light: Glass Compositions by Daniel Clayman” takes what could be the most ordinary of treatments—white glass—and uses it to stretch our perceptions of light and space. But you’d better get there soon, the show ends June 14.

–Dale

Yes, it’s true.  Our very own Hotel Murano was recently featured on the Today Show.  They were doing a show on art hotels and selected us as one of their top picks.  If you’re interested in watching the clip, we’ve posted a video of it right here.

In case you didn’t know and are new to the area, the Hotel Murano features all glass art throughout the entire hotel.  Each floor is dedicated to a different artist and best of all, you can buy any of it!  I’d say it’s time to start planning a trip to Tacoma.

- Danielle

And it seems just like yesterday when it opened. At least, that’s what the younger members of the Murano staff have been kidding me about. The Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park is celebrating its 100th birthday, and in honor of that, a special collection of Dale Chihuly glass (about 250 pieces in all) has been installed, to mingle as it were with the flowers and plants. If the grey skies have you pining for a walk through the garden, come here and take a stroll through the conservatory’s exotic tropical room.

–Dale

Imagine a vacation or business trip that makes a point to include local heritage, culture and discovery in the itinerary. We did. That’s what fueled the art glass concept behind Hotel Murano. Still, it’s a new idea to some. Thanks to author Pam Grout, that’s changing. I’ve been skimming through her new book “100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life” (I almost put in vacation time just to read her title!) She advocates traveling to Argentina – and taking a tango lesson – or going abroad to teach English. Such experiences are sure to reward an adventurous traveler. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you might be thinking of allowing us to show you our hospitality. Good idea! Once you’ve checked in, drop by the front desk and I’ll help you get started with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn glassblowing from the best in the world!

–Dale

Much as we’d like to, The Looking Glass can’t keep you apprised of everything happening in the bustling local arts scene. Fortunately, one of our local news agencies has picked up the ball. The News Tribune now publishes “GO Arts,” a daily arts blog. Artists live frantic, often unpredictable lives. “GO Arts” intends to stay ahead of the game, covering what’s happening, what’s not, who’s in town and who’s getting out of Dodge. As its mission statement says, “GO Arts” will tell you “what’s new on the walls, stage, screen and streets of Tacoma and South Puget Sound.” I, for one, intend to bookmark that one.

–Dale

Mention the name Dale Chihuly and it’s hard to avoid hyperbole. Brilliant. Amazing. Original. Miraculous. And, of course, the oft-misapplied (but not in this case) “genius.” And did I mention prolific? Keep going like this and I might start hyperventilating. Chihuly’s glass installations are more than mere art works. They are miniature worlds that seem to have plopped in from either the bottom of the sea or another universe altogether. (To see what I mean, take a stroll across our city’s Bridge of Glass.) Chihuly practically single-handedly brought glass art into the modern era – while also putting Tacoma’s arts scene on the map. So it wouldn’t be right to overlook including his work in our collection at the Hotel Murano. His piece is easy to find, occupying a pride of place on our main floor near the front desk.

–Dale

Seems Davide Salvatore has quite a list of devoted students. For someone of his skill and stature, it’s great to see him passing his knowledge on to a new generation of glass artists. If you’d like to see how the master works, drop by the Beaver Island blog, where you can see Davide at work with his kiln. You can also see pics of his finished work in his studio gallery on the Venetian island-city of Murano. For the best effect, though, stop in to our hotel lobby, where you’ll see his work in real life.

–Dale

While surfing the “Internet” the other day, I ran across a fantastic blog from the folks at Beaver Island Jewelry of Michigan. The author says, “Glass beadmaking is my passion..and my business!” And she recently took what looks like the trip of a lifetime to visit Venice and its glassmaking city Murano. You can visit lots of official tourist sites, but to get a real street-level view of Murano, check out her blog. She also took a master class from Lucio Bubacco, whose work is on display in our own lobby!

–Dale

The Venetian art world is both ebullient and poised; traditional, yet youthful. It respects its own illustrious history, yet no one takes its lore less seriously than the Venetians themselves. Lucio Bubacco understands such seeming contradictions. A Venice native himself, Bubacco is well-trained in the traditional lamp-working techniques of his forebears. Yet every piece he creates is like a breath of fresh air, keeping established traditions fresh and relevant. In his hand the exuberant paganism and of the Venice Carnivale takes center stage as masked men and dancing women cavort with devils and satyrs. His work is a toast to life in all its decadent and spiritual forms, and who can tell which is which? Take your guess by catching his work near the front desk.

–Dale