The Millennium Portal sculpture is 20 feet tall, composed of 2000 glass sun-catchers that are suspended from a steel frame pyramid. The sun-catchers are designed and produced by the HACC glass community, and will be on sale during the preview reception. The price of the sun-catchers is $7. The evening also includes glass blowing demonstrations in the HACC glass studio, music, and food. People may place bids during a silent auction of artists' works in the Arts Center lobby and gallery. Items for the auction include ceramics, glass, beads, and more. Winning bidders can take home auctioned items the night of the reception. Proceeds from the event will go to the HACC Foundation for the advancement of the college's glass art program and studio. Donations are welcome.
Glass artist and HACC student, Stephanie Grigg, says the exhibit was designed with the transition into the 21st century in mind. "HACC has a great glass program with phenomenal artists and an extraordinary leader, teacher, motivator, and artist, Robin Stanaway," says Grigg. "It's very hard to find glass art at a two or four-year college. HACC glass students and other community contributors have come together to create this Millennium Portal installation. People can walk through the archways made out of metal and enjoy the 2000 glass ornaments of various designs sparkling in the evening light. We wanted to celebrate the community, the coming millennium, and art, and share it with everyone."
Additional contributions to the exhibit include glass from Spruce Pine Batch Company, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, recycled steel from HACC Foundation board of directors member, Frank J. Dixon. Students at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, working with designers Stanaway, architectural designer and HACC alumnus, Bruce Quigley, and art student, Patty Wincovitch, are welding the steel into the pyramid sculpture. Welding teacher Dennis Ginder is coordinating the class efforts, and scheduled a field trip for the class to travel to HACC to install the welded metal.
Robin Stanaway, currently residing in Lebanon County, is an internationally known artist. She is in the process of producing a permanent public artwork for the lobby entrance to the State Museum of Pennsylvania. Most recently she has exhibited at the Tucson Museum of Art, SOHO's Gallery 91 in New York, and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She has been reviewed in publications such as Glass Magazine, Corning New Glass Review, Nues Glass in Germany, and The New York Times.
The exhibit will continue through Sunday, December 12. Any remaining sun-catchers from Sunday's preview will be available for purchase. For more information, contact HACC's Foundation office, at 780-2583.