Washington Welcomes Us

We've spent almost a month creeping up the Oregon coast.  It's hard to leave without thinking about our impressions of the state.  We were both impressed with how ecology concious everyone is.  There's an interesting mix of economic levels and a very heady ambiance in the university towns.  The scenery is indescriblable.  Ohhh, the trees...magnificient and so tall.  They even have a tall tree on the license plates.  The logging industry is still going, but it is way past its prime affecting so many of the people here.  Like most water communities, we found the towns to be outdated in a charming sort of way.  Maybe it was the pleasure and enjoyment of life after WWII that these places were developed.  Astoria is a little jewel of northwest Oregon.  Lots going on for a community of just 10,000.  And the most impressive of all:  1.  There's no sales tax so you pay exactly what the price tag says,
                                     2.  It's illegal to pump your own gas.  It's the state's way of creating jobs.
LOVE IT!!!
Now we're in Washington state...though there was no "Welcome to Washington" sign telling us we had arrived.
First stop was at the Mount St. Helen's Nation Monument Visitor's Center.   It's interesting that both the State of Washington and the National Park Service have built centers.  Could it be about $$$?

 The wall photograph as we entered depicts the eruption.

 Photos show Mt. St. Helen's before....

 ...and Mr. St. Helen's after the eruptions that began in May 1980 and lasted for six years.  The main eruptions killed 60 people.

We made a day trip to Olympia and Tacoma.

The state capitol in Olympia was completed in 1928.  They contracted with a New York architectural firm to design the building.  We admired the fixtures and were told that all the lighting is Tiffany. That's Ed on the stairs:

The state seal in the rotunda

 The rotunda 

 Looking down from the second floor

 The Senate chamber

 The House Chamber

 We stopped in the Governor's office to sign the guest book.  We asked to see her but she must have had a busy schedule...

We continued on our day trip and drove the 20 miles to Tacoma to see the Museum of Glass.

Lisa Holloway recommmended it and we are so happy she did!!!

Tacoma is another interesting city.  It's home to more than one university including the

University of Washington and also to the king of glass, Dale Chihuly.  He seems to be revered here.

The Museum of Glass is all about pushing the art medium to new limits.  It's just a spectacular place.

The outdoor reflecting pool is home to a glass sculpture.

 The outside of the building has this huge metal cone.

 It's the Hot Room - the working glass studio.

 Glass artists from all over come here as artists in residence where they work and teach for a period of time.  Some of the resulting pieces are sold in the gift shop.  It's an arena where you watch for hours as they creat beautiful works of art.

 The galleries exhibit rotating shows.  This one of large goblets...

 Some of the designs are sold in the gift shop in "normal" goblet sizes.

 There are combinations of recycled glass, some metal parts, whimsey and traditional glass artistry.  The piece in front is Murano.

One of the galleries is slowing a retrospective of Dale Chihuly's earlier works.  I've gotten so used to seeing his designs everywhere that I've lost my appreciation of his work.  Let me note that I have regained it!  His skills and his artistry and his influence on the studio movement of the last 30 years is immeasurable.  The pieces we saw are wonderful.

 Just look at the colors in this one.

 He has been so immitated., but he's still the master.

 I was taken with these two pieces.  So un-Chihuly.  He has worked in so many genres.

The man who created the pieces below is named Paul Stankard.  He's had a 50 year career in glass art.  We watched a film about his career and his methods - it only made these pieces more remarkable.

He creates the minitures of glass flowers and other life forms and then encases them in molten clear glass.  Each has a spiritual meaning to him and a story. 

 The detail and the beauty if astounding.  Ed was certain the forms were real plants and insects until we watched the film and saw how Stankard creates his glass scluptures.

 This is the artist at work.  This baseball sized piece is for sale in the gift shop.

 Across the road and connected by the Bridge of Glass is the U.S. Courthouse.  There are Chihuly pieces hanging inside.  Old building...new glass...

 The Bridge of Glass is a display of Chihuly works - from the large blue sculptures...

 ...to the window displays of his works.

 One of the pieces displayed - a reclining figure on top.  Not what I thought

of as Chihuly...

What a wonderful time we've had in our introduction to Washiington.  We leave tomorrow to drive up the Olympic peninsula, visit Olympic National Park and then Seattle.