Iittala Birds Return to Museum of Glass with Limited Edition Anna’s Hummingbird on Sept 24, 2014

Tacoma, Wash. — Iittala birds by Oiva Toikka return to Museum of Glass for the eleventh consecutive year on September 24, 2014. In partnership with Finland’s Iittala, Inc., this year’s display will feature the newly designed Anna’s Hummingbird , continuing the celebration of internationally recognized designer Oiva Toikka’s glass birds.

Professor Toikka’s career with the Iittala company spans 40 years, during which he has designed over 400 glass birds. Despite the recent closure of the Iittala glass factory in Nuutajärvi, Finland, Finnish glassblowing traditions have been preserved through the transfer of operations and production to a refurbished Iittala factory in Helsinki.

The Anna’s Hummingbird , made specifically for Museum of Glass, along with rare prototypes and other specimens from the Museum’s collection, will be on view on the Hot Shop balcony. 200 limited edition glass birds will be available for purchase exclusively in the Museum of Glass Store.

Previous birds by Toikka created for Museum of Glass include American Goldfinch  (2004), Pacific Water Fowl (2005), Spotted Towhee  (2006), Red-winged Blackbird  (2007), Ruffed Grouse  (2008), Swift  (2009), Kingfisher (2010), Woodpecker  (2011), Western Tanager  (2012) and Wood Ducks  (2013).

Iittala-related events include a variety of art and educational activities during Bird Lovers’ Weekend, October 3 – 5:

Friday, October 3

• 10 am – 5 pm: Birds by Toikka glass bird-making demonstrations by Iittala artists Arto Lahtinen and Kirsi Anttila in the Hot Shop. Oiva Toikka (Finnish, born 1931); Anna’s Hummingbird, 2014; Blown glass; 5 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 2 3/8 inches; Photo by Duell Fisher.

Saturday, October 4

• 10 am – 5 pm: Birds by Toikka glass bird-making demonstrations by Iittala artists Arto Lahtinen and Kirsi Anttila in the Hot Shop.
• 11 am – 12 pm: Enjoy a special visit with bird ambassadors from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium!
• 1 – 4 pm: Join artist Larry Calkins and celebrate all things birds! Create your own wire bird sculpture, paint a bird feeder for your garden and then explore native bird species with The
• University of Puget Sound’s Slater Museum of Natural History and their display of scientific bird specimens.

Sunday, October 5

• 11 am – 1 pm: Museum of Glass members’ brunch (FREE for members, brunch opens to general public at 12 pm for an additional cost).
• 11:30 am – 12 pm: Bird signing by Iittala artists Arto Lahtinen and Kirsi Anttila.
• 12 – 5 pm: Birds by Toikka glass bird-making demonstrations by Iittala artists Arto Lahtinen and Kirsi Anttila in the Hot Shop.
• 2 – 3 pm: Lecture on Oiva Toikka by Walter Lieberman in the Hot Shop.

A special “Make Your Own Bird” hands-on activity will also be offered on Thursday, October 2 to celebrate the beginning of Bird Lovers’ Weekend, during which participants will work on the Hot Shop floor to create their own glass bird. A limited number of spaces are available at $500 per person. To reserve a space or request more information, please contact Tom Findlay at tfindlay@museumofglass.org.

Museum of Glass is sponsored in part by The Ben B. Cheney Foundation, City of Tacoma Arts Commission, ArtsFund, The Dimmer Family Foundation, and The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.

Hours and Admission

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Store is also open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed

Mondays and Tuesdays between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free for members, $12 general, $10 seniors, military and students (13+ with ID), and AAA Members, $10 groups of 10 or more, $5 children (6-12) years old. Children under 6 are admitted free. Admission is free every third Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Info Line 253-284-4750/ 1-866-4MUSEUM

Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock Street Tacoma, WA 98402

www.museumofglass.org