New Stunning Glass Exhibit Opens at Boca Art Museum

By Marci Shatzman

Colorful. An eyeful. If you’ve already seen Boca Raton Museum of Art’s last two iterations of “Glasstress” you’re in for a treat. The new one with all new works, aptly called “From Venice to Boca Raton: Glasstress 2025,” has opened now through Oct. 12.

The exhibit “brings together internationally renowned artists with master glassmakers of Venice to push the boundaries of glass art,” is how the museum characterizes this exhibit. “By blending centuries-old techniques with contemporary artistic visions, the project highlights the enduring prestige of glass as a fine art and integrates Murano’s rich traditions into the modern art world.”

So, you’ll find everything from colorful teardrop chandeliers I found reminiscent of Alex Calder’s kinetic mobiles, to a talking exhibit with moving eyes and mouth. My personal favorite. Be prepared. It’s not often you find art looking back at you. Called M*orb 2017, it’s New York artist Tony Oursler’s take on video art, described as a “riveting glass mask behind a pair of green human eyes and red lips move restlessly.”

There are vases in five colors, a blown glass white chandelier, busts wearing headdresses. Three stunning glass birds are the work of French artist Laure Prouvost. “Winner of the prestigious Turner Prize, Prouvost represented France in the 2019 Venice Biennale… Her installation of aquatic birds situated in a tropical landscape is her homage to our endangered natural environment.”

Displayed in its own dark room with a nearby bench to ponder the meaning of Irene Cattaneo’s Forget me no-w/t 2023, is a “tree of life…a twisting trunk arches up and splits into four branches that yield …glass clouds.” Tarot Kindergarten is 24 squares assembled in one large work is the artist and designer Pedro Friedeberg’s interpretation of tarot readings from The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, etc. Don’t miss Fort Lauderdale artist Jose Alvarez’ colorful homage to his own tropical space, called “Echoes of Silence in the Galactic Garden.” Beautiful.

Each work of art has two labels on the wall in English and Spanish explaining who the artist is and their artistic vision. For instance, Sean Scully’s Venice Stack 2020 is described as “a series of hollow Murano glass squares handmade in bright vibrant shades and stacked in a tower.” That’s what invites us into this exhibit.

Previous Glasstress works, including Song Dong’s floor-to-ceiling classic Venetian chandelier design with security cameras is hung in the museum’s Wolgin Auditorium off the lobby. Others “have found their way into the permanent collection,” said Austin Modine, associate director for marketing and publications. Many are on the second floor and worth checking out.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue and is curated by Kathleen Goncharov, senior curator of the Boca Raton Museum of Art. If you’re new to the museum, it’s at the north end of Mizner Park with a free parking garage across the street. Here’s a link to the museum hours and entry costs. Many locals become members and there’s often special member events.  https://bocamuseum.org/