Chrysler Museum announces Venetian Lagoon glass exhibit

Kevin Cheek
·3 min read

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A new exhibit at the Chrysler Museum features the fantastic creatures of the Venetian Lagoon.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Venetian glassblowers adorned glass vessels with mythical beasts sculpted from hot glass and dusted with gold.

“When I saw that more than half of the objects were ornamented with dragons, dolphins, and other fabulous creatures, it became clear to me that there was a fabulous show waiting to happen,” says the exhibition’s curator, Carolyn Swan Needell, Ph.D., the Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass at the Chrysler Museum.

A list of exhibition dates and programming can be found below:

  • Thursday, April 4: First Thursday: Venetian Glass, Italian Wine, and Wild Stories
    6–9 p.m.    , Get wild at this enthralling exploration of the Chrysler Museum’s exhibition Fantastic Creatures of the Venetian Lagoon: Glass 1875–1915. Wine tasting presented by Vino Culture, live animals, art talks, and a storytelling safari make for a merry-making menagerie of a night. FREE

  • Friday, April 12: Art Matters: Fantastic Creatures, The exhibition Fantastic Creatures of the Venetian Lagoon: Glass 1875-1915, attests to both the imagination and virtuosity of glass makers and offer viewers lots to talk about. Art Matters is a free program presented in partnership with the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. To register, please call (800) 272-3900 FREE

  • Tuesday, April 16: Teen Studio: Clay Creations, 1–3:30 p.m. Experiment with air-dry clay to bring an idea into three dimensions. Combine wire armatures with clay to add strength and stability when going large. Ages 13–17
    $8 for Museum members, $15 for non-members

  • Wednesday, April 17: Homeschool Studio: Clay Creatures, 1–3:30 p.m. Use air-dry clay to create creatures real and imaginary. Experiment with pinch pots, coil building, and more when using this natural and magnificent material. Ages 6–12.
    $8 for Museum members, $15 for non-members

  • Thursday, April 18: Glass After Dark featuring Fabiano Zanchi, 8–10 p.m. Hot glass and live music come together for memorable evenings during Glass After Dark. Watch the Perry Glass Studio Team take the molten material to exciting places and enjoy entertainment by local musicians. This month features the incredibly talented Italian glass maestro and chandelier maker, Fabiano Zanchi. $10 for Museum members, $20 for non-members, Cash bar

  • Thursday, July 18: Glass After Dark featuring Jeff Mack, 8–10 p.m. Hot glass and live music come together for memorable evenings during Glass After Dark. This month, watch acclaimed glass artist Jeff Mack and the Perry Glass Studio Team take the molten material to exciting places and enjoy entertainment by local musicians.
    $10 for Museum members, $20 for non-members, Cash bar

  • Tuesday, July 23–Friday, July 26: Camp Art Stars: Fantastic Creatures, Mythological creatures and natural wonders come together in this exciting camp for creators. Draw, paint, print, stitch, and sculpt creatures big, small, ordinary, and extraordinary. Find animals throughout the Museum and in the temporary exhibition Fantastic Creatures of the Venetian Lagoon: Glass 1875-1915. Sessions will be held 9:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For artists ages 6-9.
    $250 for Museum members, $295 for non-members

For more information, visit chrysler.org.

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