THE NIIJIMA GLASS ART MUSEUM
The Niijima Contemporary Glass Art Museum has been established to exhibit a permanent collection of donated art works which have been created in workshops and demonstrations in the Niijima Glass Art Festival, our annual event since 1988.
The museum opened on September 1st, 1997, preceded by a month of free admission period in August. The collection consists of works by artists ranging from pioneers of (American) Studio Glass Movement (who are thus also pioneers of modern glass) to other contemporary artists who hold influential position in the world of glass art at present. They met in Niijima, competed and collaborated to create these precious and original works of art.
Among those who have visited Niijima are, to name a few, Dale Chihuly, the first living national treasure of the United States of America and the founder of Pilchuck Glass School, and Joel Philip Myers and Henry Halem, founders of glass programs at Illinois State University and Kent State University who have been active educators as well as artists to the present day. These are pioneer artists of modern glass I met during my three years of study in the U.S. starting in 1981. Deeply influenced by these artists, I hoped to introduce them to the people in Japan someday. Among others, the second and third generation modern glass artists from the United States such as Benjamin Moor, Dante Marioni and Ruth King and many other internationally-acclaimed artists from Iceland, Italy, England, the Czech Republic, Australia, the Netherlands, and Japan have participated in the festival. About forty of their works are exhibited asthe museum's permanent collection.
One work which characterizes the collection at the Niijima Contemporary Glass Art Museum is the collaboration piece by William Morris of the U.S.A., the glass blowing maestro, and Lucio Bubacco of Italy, the flame working maestro. They met at Niijima and with their superb techniques and spirit created this very unique piece of art, which came as a surprise even to the artists themselves. This kind of collaboration has actively been attempted by all visiting artists as well as staff members of the Niijima Glass Art Center, and the works resulting from these ventures have become a distinguishing mark of the Niijima Contemporary Glass Art Museum.
The works donated by invited artists and other participants of the Niijima International Glass Art Festival in the past nine years have counted up to over eighty pieces, and the figure is expected to increase in the future. The museum aims to provide the best exhibiting environment for these works and offer them to the public to see, as well as nourish the cultural aspect of Niijima Village and promote the village tourism. The museum's basic managerial expenses are at present met by the admission fee, and display and maintenance are the volunteer work of the members of the Niijima Glass Association. There are many issues to be discussed and solved at an earliest possible date, such as its planning and managerial organization, but we believe that making the most of this precious international property is our way of expressing our gratitude to all the glass artists who have been supporting our cause.
Although this museum is relatively small and much is to be improved both in its facilities and operations, it provides an environment in which artists can create something which they never can elsewhere. Come and participate in the festival and share precious time and space with artists, or just visit us and in your own pace see what has been created here.
Noda Osamu
Director/ Niijima Glass Art Center
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