GATHER: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists
March 26 - September 4, 2022Representing nearly 30 years of youth development and creative cultivation through glassblowing, GATHER: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists includes work from 21 Hilltop Artists alumni with artistic practices rooted in the Tacoma community.
Featuring a variety of contemporary glass artworks from vessels and sculptures to neon and installations as well as paintings and mixed media, GATHER highlights the outcomes and reach of the Hilltop Artists program while shining a light on opportunity gaps faced by these artists, many of whom have not yet been included in exhibitions on this scale. Curated by Trenton Quiocho, Hilltop Artist alum (2008), and current Assistant Production Manager. Presented in collaboration with Tacoma Art Museum.
About Hilltop Artists
Hilltop Artists is a youth development arts nonprofit in Tacoma, Washington operating deeply impactful programs since 1994 with broad community support, and a track record of success. Hilltop Artists serves over 650 students a year ages 12 – 26 through its programming, providing tuition-free glass instruction, mentorship, and collaborative leadership opportunities. This is anti-racist work guided by justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an understanding of trauma-informed care and social and emotional learning.
Hilltop Artists is dedicated to its mission: Using glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures.
Text contributed by Hilltop Artists, Trenton Quiocho, and Dr. Kimberly Keith, Executive Director of Hilltop Artists.
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GATHER: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists has been curated by Trenton Quiocho with contributions by Dr. Kimberly Keith.
We are thankful to our Leading Sponsors for making this exhibition possible:
We also appreciate our Foundational Sponsors for their generous support: ArtsWA, National Endowment for the Arts, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
Copyright for the artwork and the photography of the artwork lies with the artist, their assigns, or the museum. Photographs not provided by the artist are by Steven Miller. Images are available to view here for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use.
Image credits: (banner) Douglas Jan Burgess II. “Mindfulness Totem Pole Park II,” 2022. Blown, enameled and engraved glass, redwood plank, woven cedar, woven spruce root, abalone shell, fur, and dentalia shell, 22 x 15 x 30 in. (55.9 x 38.1 x 76.2 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Steven Miller; Daria Hembree. “Man-Eater” (detail), 2021. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Steven Miller; Samantha Scalise. “Mushroom to Glow,” 2020. Blown glass and wood, 12 1/2 x 8 in. (31.8 x 20.3 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Steven Miller; Zane Scott. “Melted Fax Machine,” 2021. Found fax machine, 13 x 14 x 13 in. (33 x 35.6 x 33 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Mia Modafferi; (mid-page) Dani Kaes, “Clyde’s Bargain Bin Boots (For Dogs, Too)” (detail), 2022. Neon, 48 x 60 x 10 in. (121.9 x 152.4 x 25.4 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Steven Miller.