NASHER STORE TO WELCOME IITTALA BIRD ARTIST ANU PENTTINEN FOR SEPTEMBER 26-28 MEET THE ARTIST EVENT
8/14/2008 12:05:48 PM
Finnish Designer Anu Penttinen to Make U.S. Debut at Nasher Stores
Dallas, Texas – The Nasher Sculpture Center Store is excited to welcome iittala Finnish glass artist Anu Penttinen for her debut appearance in the United States. Penttinen will be on hand to show off her new iittala bird collection during a special three-day Meet the Artist event taking place Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 at the Nasher downtown location and on Sunday, September 28 at the NorthPark Center location. The Friday event will feature a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception and bird signing from 6-9 pm. The Meet the Artist series is presented with media support from PaperCity Magazine.
Penttinen’s first collection of glass birds are the latest to the iittala line and features six cheery cartoon chicks with irresistible names such as I’m All Bananas, Cool Joe, and Ippy the Hippy. Penttinen’s birds owe much to pop culture and the world of cartoons, and are full of humor.
“I decided to give my birds some humor and a personality all of their own,” said Penttinen. “I took my inspiration from the hand-crafted forms found in clay animation and tropical birds. I’m fascinated by the colors and very graphic shape and startling nature of tropical birds like toucans. Their strong beaks and very individual eyes provided the input for some of the most important details of my glass birds.”
Iittala birds have become a phenomenon all over the world. Finnish glass artist Oiva Toikka designed his first glass birds at the iittala Groups’ Nuutajärvi glassworks back in 1972. These laid the foundation for what has become the iittala Birds collection, now known worldwide. All iittala glass birds are handcrafted and mouth blown – no two are alike.
Also debuting during the event are stylish and playful iittala “I’m for the Birds” t-shirts – a gift with Penttinen bird purchase, Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, and on sale for $30 each.
The Nasher Store is conveniently situated in two locations, at the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Dallas Arts District and at NorthPark Center at the corner of 75 and Northwest Highway. All new birds by Penttinen and other iittala merchandise are available for purchase at Nasher Stores.
About Nasher Sculpture Center Store:
The Nasher Sculpture Center Store, voted “Best Museum Store” by D Magazine in 2006, is located inside the Nasher Sculpture Center and across from Barneys at NorthPark Center. The store features a unique collection of merchandise available for purchase including home décor, artisan jewelry, one-of-a-kind works of art, children’s toys, and an extensive selection of books on art and architecture.
Nasher Store at Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora Street)
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
Phone: 214.242.5110
Nasher Sculpture Center Store at NorthPark Center (Across from Barneys)
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am- 9 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm
Phone: 214.363.8844
About the Nasher Sculpture Center:
Open since October 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center is dedicated to the display and study of modern and contemporary sculpture. The Center is located on a 2.4 acre site adjacent to the Dallas Museum of Art in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Renzo Piano, a world-renowned architect and winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1998, is the architect of the Center’s 55,000 square foot building. Piano worked in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker on the design of the two-acre sculpture garden.
The Nasher Sculpture Center was the longtime dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. The Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection includes masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miró, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among others, and continues to grow and evolve.
The Nasher Sculpture Center presents rotating exhibitions of works from the Nasher Collection as well as special exhibitions drawn from other museums and private collections. In addition to indoor gallery space, the Center contains an auditorium, education and research facilities, a cafe, and a store.
The Nasher Sculpture Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 5 pm, Thursday from 11am to 9 pm, and until 11 pm for special events such as Saturday Night in the City. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for members and children 12 and under. For more information, visit www.NasherSculptureCenter.org.
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For more information and photos, please contact:
Kristen Mills Gibbins
Communications Manager
214.242.5177
kgibbins@NasherSculptureCenter.org