Media Alert
Stephanie Kelley, APR, Director of Communications
256.535.4350 ext. 219 or [email protected]
HMA invites MEDIA to meet master glass artist and
preview commissioned chandelier at 2 PM TODAY
Seattle-based, glass artist Ginny Ruffner is BACK in Huntsville
to UNVEIL her one-of-a-kind chandelier at HMA
TONIGHT AT 6 PM
WHO:
The Huntsville Museum of Art’s Peter Baldaia, director of Curatorial Affairs, and
Seattle-based, internationally-acclaimed glass artist Ginny Ruffner will participate
in a MEDIA PREVIEW prior to the unveiling of her commissioned chandelier.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in South Carolina, Ruffner now lives and
creates her works of art in Seattle, Washington. Her works are in public and
private collections nationwide. Early in her career, she pioneered the fine art
application of the age-old technique of lampworking, which involves the
manipulation of glass rods over an open flame.
She is the subject of the film “A Not So Still Life,” which premiered at the Seattle
Film Festival in 2010 and won in the Best Documentary category. It tells her
incredible story, including details of her near-fatal car accident in 1991 and her
unexpected comeback.
WHAT:
In October of 2014, the Museum presented the exhibition Ginny Ruffner:
Aesthetic Engineering in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Celebration of
The Women’s Guild of the Huntsville Museum of Art. The Guild, which was the
lead presenting sponsor of the exhibit, also held three opening events to celebrate
its anniversary and raise money for the museum and exhibition.
After raising more than its initial fundraising commitment through these
anniversary events, the Guild donated the additional monies to the Museum,
enabling it to commission Ruffner to create a one-of-a-kind chandelier. The
chandelier will be located in the Richard & Roper Room on the gallery level.
WHEN:
TODAY at 2 p.m. – MEDIA Preview
TONIGHT at 6 p.m. – Unveiling Ceremony and Reception
WHERE:
Huntsville Museum of Art Richard & Roper Room (enter through Church St. entrance)
WHY:
The chandelier commemorates 50 years of the Guild’s dedicated support to the
Huntsville Museum of Art. It will be on view for Museum visitors to enjoy for
years to come. It is a unique work, which will be accessioned into the Museum’s
permanent collection.