L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano A glass artist for m o r e t h a n 7 5 y e a r s , L i n o Tagliapietra is considered the greatest glass-blower of all t i m e . H i s w o r k h a s h a d tremendous impact on the studio-glass art movement internationally, including the Pacific Northwest, a mecca for glass art. B u t w h e n a s k e d t o d e s c r i b e h i m s e l f a t t h e beginning of a new docu- mentary about his life and a r t , T a g l i a p i e t r a a p p e a r s uncomfortable identifying himself as a glass artist or even a glass blower. Finally, he murmurs: "Sono Lino" – I am Lino. That is the title chosen for a new documentary that pre- miered in May at the Seattle International Film Festi- val. Combining archival and p r e s e n t - d a y p h o t o s a n d footage, the film traces Tagli- apietra's life in both Italy a n d t h e N o r t h w e s t , a n d i n t r o d u c e s a u d i e n c e s t o some of the talented pro- tégés who have gone on to become successful artists in their own right. Directed by J a c o b P a t r i c k , t h e 7 6 - minute documentary was shot primarily in Murano, Venice, Seattle, and Tacoma. At its essence, Sono Lino is a bittersweet look at the life and legacy of the great maestro. Included are com- ments by Tagliapietra's wife, son and grandson, and inter- views with former members of Team Lino who provide a f a s c i n a t i n g b e h i n d - t h e - scenes look at what is needed – physically and mentally, as well as artistically – to create such great works of art. Born in 1934 in Murano, Tagliapietra dropped out of school at the age of 11 to take a job in a glass-blowing fac- t o r y . F o r t h e n e x t f e w decades, he focused on what he had to do to supply glass- work for customers, not on w h a t i n s p i r e d h i m a s a n artist. Even at a young age, he exhibited an amazing dex- terity for working in glass and became a maestro at the age of 25. In 1968, Tagliapietra met S e a t t l e g l a s s a r t i s t D a l e Chihuly when Chihuly was in Italy on a Fulbright Fel- lowship. A decade later, at Chihuly's invitation, Tagli- apietra visited Seattle for the first time, where he intro- d u c e d s t u d e n t s a t t h e Pilchuck Glass School to the traditions of Venetian glassblowing. He may not have spoken much English at t h e t i m e , b u t n o m a t t e r : glass was his first language. Although artists had been blowing glass at Pilchuck since it opened in 1971, as o n e a r t i s t p u t i t : " L i n o b r o u g h t t e c h n i q u e , a n d everybody realized that we had been doing it all wrong." In this respect, Tagliapi- e t r a h a s b e e n a n o u t l i e r : many Murano glassblowers would never give away their craft secrets. But Tagliapi- etra is known for his gen- erosity, sharing his love of glassmaking with the next generation. He is not the first glass artist to leave Murano but he is the first to teach in such an open and accessible style. Tagliapietra's impact on P i l c h u c k i s i m p o s s i b l e t o exaggerate. The cross-cultur- al collaboration helped shape t h e i d e n t i t y o f A m e r i c a n glassblowing and cemented the Northwest's pivotal role i n t h a t m e d i u m . I t a l s o offered Lino an opportunity to expand his horizons inter- nationally. As his art became more collectible, it provided him with the confidence and the funds to become inde- pendent. This propensity to share his craft is a constant theme throughout Sono Lino. Tagli- a p i e t r a ' s g e n e r o s i t y a n d friendship made him a father figure to the artists he men- t o r e d . B u t i t ' s c l e a r t h a t when creating art in the stu- d i o , h e c o u l d b e b o t h demanding and focused. The glass took center stage. The film gives audiences a look at some of the frenzied energy and feats of coordina- tion that are expended in the hotshop. Like an intricate ballet where every dancer k n o w s h i s o r h e r m o v e s , there is surprisingly little conversation. Instead, the only sounds are the hiss of the fire in the furnace, the whoosh of the blowtorch, and the crackle of glass as it is shaped by tongs. Glass is swung through the air, flat- tened and formed, molded and cut. Tagliapietra's decades- l o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Pilchuck was not his only connection to the Northwest. For 20 years, the maestro was a frequent visitor to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, completing 19 residencies and appearances in its hot shop to standing-room only a u d i e n c e s . H i s f i r s t s o l o exhibit was staged in 2008; two more solo shows fol - lowed in 2012 and 2014. His final public appear- ance at the museum was on March 4, 2023, in an invita- tion-only event that brought together many of the glass artists who had worked with him in the past. The film crew of Sono Lino was there, too, capturing both the sad- ness and the joy evoked at what may be the maestro's last major appearance. At the event, museum offi- cials announced the creation of a new permanent gallery dedicated to Tagliapietra. Included will be his archives d a t i n g b a c k t o t h e m i d - 1990s, showcasing his evolu- tion as an artist and demon- strating his use of intricate glass-blowing techniques. A l t h o u g h T a g l i a p i e t r a announced his retirement, as with many great artists, life without creating art is not easy. When asked what his favorite piece was, Tagliapi- etra answered: "The next one." As he approaches the age of 90, the next one may n o l o n g e r b e p o s s i b l e . Injuries and an aging body have taken their toll. But as Lino, ever the optimist, says i n t h e f i l m : " Y o u n e v e r know!" Sono Lino is an intimate and emotional portrait of the artist in the final chapter of his life. Tagliapietra has left a h u g e i m p r e s s i o n o n t h e P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t , t h e blown-glass world, and the people within it, freely pass- ing on his knowledge and techniques to future genera- tions. That is the legacy of Lino Tagliapietra. "Sono Lino" captures the life and legacy of glass artist Lino Tagliapietra RITA CIPALLA From left, clockwise: A new film directed by Jacob Patrick, portraying the great Italian glass artist Lino Tagliapietra, premiered in May at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF); Endeavor, by Lino Tagliapietra (Photo: Scott James/Dreamstime); the Uptown Cinema, home of the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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