Native glass art | Preston Singletary | TEDxRainier

Native glass art | Preston Singletary | TEDxRainier

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Preston Singletary takes native art out of the cultural corral by bringing glass-blowing to his work, creating native art in glass. His stunning glass work bridges traditions and genres and reinvigorates what indigenous art and intercultural collaborations can achieve.

Preston Singletary’s artwork features themes of transformation, animal spirits, and shamanism through elegant blown glass forms and mystical sand carved Tlingit designs. His work has become synonymous with the relationship between European glass blowing traditions and Northwest native art. He learned the art of glass blowing by working with artists in the Seattle area, including Benjamin Moore and Dante Marioni. As a student and assistant, his work took him to Kosta Boda (Sweden) where he studied Scandinavian design. Throughout his 30+ years of experience, he learned the secrets of the Venetian glass masters and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound. He teaches and lectures internationally, and his artwork is included in collections worldwide.

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