PHILADELPHIA – National Liberty Museum will present its 16th annual Glass Auction & Gala on Oct. 30. The event will be offering guests and bidders an array of exciting new elements, including a new venue, new date, and the work of exciting, new glass artists, contributing to the auction for the first time. More than 60 pieces of artwork will also be available for purchase via remote bidding on LiveAuctioneers.com.
This year, the museum’s most important annual fundraiser – designed to spotlight its most celebrated art medium, glass art – will be held at the Moulin in Sherman Mills, Pa., creating a magical start to Halloween weekend. All event proceeds will benefit the NLM’s character and leadership programs, including the NLM’s proprietary Young Heroes Outreach Program, a year-long, innovative, educational initiative for fourth through eighth grade that empowers students in the areas of leadership, civic engagement and social justice.
The annual event will bring together hundreds of artists, collectors and glass influencers for an event fueled by creative energy and fast-paced bidding. The live event will feature the glass art creations of approximately 200 rising and renowned glass artists whose work is collectively valued at approximately $1 million. Online bidding includes 60-plus pieces from dozens of artists around the globe.
From glass jewelry, to intricate centerpieces, to elaborate sculptures, the glass art showcased at the event is designed by both masters of contemporary art as well as international rising stars, many of whom donated their glass art for the cause. As a highlight of the evening, the NLM will recognize internationally renowned glass artist Lu Chi, who is traveling from Mainland China to attend the event, as its 2015 Artist Honoree.
“Glass art gives our educators a special language to talk with young people about the concept of liberty. The art form effectively makes the point to students that, as our next generation of leaders, each will play an important role in sustaining liberty, fragile like a piece of glass, by behaving as responsible and ethical adults,” said Gwen Borowsky, CEO of the National Liberty Museum.
The National Liberty Museum’s 2015 Artist Honoree is internationally renowned glass artist Lu Chi, a pioneer of the Chinese contemporary glass art movement. She received an MFA degree in glass from Tsinghua University and became the first professional glass artist in China, Mainland. Her works are included in collections worldwide, and she has donated to the National Liberty Museum’s Glass Auction & Gala many times.
The National Liberty Museum’s annual Glass Auction & Gala celebrates the NLM’s mission to preserve America’s heritage of freedom by fostering good character, civic responsibility, and respect for all people, through the museum’s chosen art medium: glass. The NLM is the only museum worldwide that uses glass art as a symbol for liberty, regarding it as beautiful and strong, yet fragile. The NLM is renowned for its extensive glass art collection with pieces ranging from Dale Chihuly’s famous 20-foot-tall Flame of Liberty installation to the numerous works by national and international artists complementing the exhibits in the galleries.
