Polk Museum of Art Acquires Two Chihulys and a Ginny Ruffner

Written by Lance Cather Saturday, 05 May 2012 00:13

LAKELAND , FL - Polk Museum of Art has acquired two new artworks by internationally noted master glassmaker Dale Chihuly. The pieces were purchased for the Permanent Collection by the Museum's Art Resource Trust group and by individual donors. Along with the Chihulys, the Museum also purchased a piece by Seattle glass artist Ginny Ruffner, one of the most important female glass artists in the country. All three pieces are currently on display in the Museum's Hollis Gallery.

"This is really exciting for us," said Daniel E. Stetson, Executive Director of Polk Museum of Art. "Chihuly is the most famous glass artist in the world. He's almost a household name, and now we have not just one, but two beautiful pieces by him in our collection. The piece by Ginny Ruffner broadens our holdings and adds a wonderful and unique work to our collection."

The Art Resource Trust is a group within the Museum whose sole purpose is to purchase artwork for the Permanent Collection. The group decides on an area of focus for the next purchase, and then spends the next year learning about that particular media. A banquet is held every two years at which the group is presented with several available pieces. They then vote to decide which piece to purchase for the Collection.

Sunset Red Macchia with Sky Blue Lip Wrap was purchased by the Art Resource Trust at its purchase dinner in January. At that time, members of the Art Resource Trust were presented with six glass sculptures and asked to vote for the one they wanted to purchase for the collection. The second Chihuly, Olive and Blue Green Persian Set, was a close runner-up, and several Art Resource Trust members donated additional funds for its purchase.

The third piece, The House of Glorious Mornings by Ginny Ruffner, was purchased through donated funds following the meeting. Ruffner offered the Museum a generous discount for the piece, and several donors stepped forward to make the purchase possible.

Dale Chihuly is arguably the most prominent glassmaker working today. He has garnered world renown for his organic forms and use of intense color. Many contemporary glassmakers have taken inspiration from his ground-breaking use of the medium. His work  has been exhibited all over the world, and major installations of his pieces can be seen at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Bellagio in Las Vegas, a public walkway in Tacoma, Washington, Naples Museum of Art in Florida, and Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, among others. Large scale temporary installations have been held in Venice, Italy; Niijima, Japan; and Vianne, France. Polk Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of his Macchia work in 1995.

Ginny Ruffner is one of the most prominent female glass artists working in the United States today. Her lampwork glass pieces can be found in major museums, including the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, the Queensland Art Gallery in Australia, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Polk Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of her glass sculptures and the installation The Flowering Tornado in 2004.

Polk Museum of Art is located in Lakeland, Florida.  The Museum is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in Central Florida. The Museum is one of the top ten art museums in the state of Florida and the only art museum accredited by the American Association of Museums serving the 530,000 residents of Polk County. Museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10a.m. – 5p.m.; and Sunday, 1 – 5p.m. Visit : www.PolkMuseumofArt.org