'Permanent Immigrant' must see MoNA exhibit

An exciting and thoughtful selection of sculpture, prints and paintings bring intriguing and emotional viewing to guests at the Museum of Northwest Art. The exhibit, "Permanent Immigrant: Italo Scanga in the Dale and Leslie Chihuly Collection is on view until May 14 in the main gallery. Upstairs is "Geppetto's Children: Italo Scanga at Pilchuck Glass School." Both exhibits are masterfully curated by art critic and scholar Matthew Kangas.

The opening on Feb. 18 was a very special event with MoNA Executive Director Stefano Catalani giving a sincere welcome and introducing special guests Leslie and Dale Chihuly, Scanga's family, daughter, son and granddaughter and Kangas. Words of praise and admiration were given for Scanga's work and influence. Many collectors, gallerists and artists were in attendance to pay tribute to the Italian-American artist.

Scanga immigrated from Italy to the U.S. just after World War II at the age of 15 with his mother. In Italy, while suffering the hardships of war, he was training with a furniture maker in his village. That training and the effects of post-war poverty and hunger would influence his lifelong career as a sculptor and multi-media artist. He continued to travel back to his home, to his roots, never feeling quite at home in either country, therefore becoming a "Permanent Immigrant".

Scanga and Chihuly's friendship began when they met at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1967. Their friendship thrived as they shared a passion for making art, hunting for antiques and castoff treasures, Italian food and wine. They also shared an aesthetic in their work for spontaneity and color.

Scanga's training in furniture building, love of color and found objects is evident in his sculptures exhibited. He dealt with issues of guilt, fear, greed and consumerism through his work. Many of the assembled wood pieces were made at Pilchuck using wood he found in the forests surrounding the school. One piece in particular, titled "Potato Famine" brings together in a striking and emotional way Scanga's concern for humankind, the inhumane treatment of poor populations and political injustices worldwide. Scanga chose the potato famine that ravaged Ireland in the late 1840s. Millions died and millions had to leave their homes and country while the aristocratic class refused aid to save the crops and lives.

Chihuly founded the Pilchuck Glass School in 1971 and invited Scanga to come as an artist-in-residence in 1973. From that time until his untimely death in 2001, Scanga returned to Pilchuck every year where he influenced and inspired generations of artists working in glass.

In the upstairs gallery one will view "Geppetto's Children." This part of the exhibit will be particularly interesting to anyone that follows or is familiar with the studio glass movement in the Northwest that began at Pilchuck. Many early pieces of glass are displayed from some of the most well-known artists who have gone on to internationally recognized careers.

Both exhibitions will have something of interest for everyone. Through the generosity of Leslie and Dale Chihuly, Italo Scanga's family, many collectors and artists, a wide variety of work is well displayed, with plenty of diagraphs to give the viewer more information and an understanding about the artists, their work and the unique relationships developed at Pilchuck Glass School.

Steve Klein is a La Conner based glass artist and serves on the Pilchuck Glass School board.