Eleven talented artists from Florida’s glass community and overseas made a splash at the preview of our latest exhibition, celebrating the sea as envisioned by contemporary glass and ceramic artists. They enjoyed catching up at the party and seeing all the new work at WMODA, including Chihuly’s works on paper and Lino’s dinosaurs. Everyone was blown away by the Sea of Glass created by Josh Fradis at the entrance to the Splash! exhibition.

Jellyfish, turtles and stingrays glide above coral caverns inhabited by a solitary octopus in Josh’s spectacular installation. His foam-crested waves of glass also set the oceanic scene at WMODA, along with blown and sculpted glass seashells by Rob Stern and Eli Cecil. A pod of dolphins flameworked by Chadd Lacy frolics on the wall, and dichroic glass shark teeth by Grace Chepenik glint menacingly nearby. Nini Montanez from Candle Nerds captured the marine vibe with her new Evolution series of wax sculptures, When Sand Meets Sea. 

Venetian artist Anna Paola Cibin creates a magical atmosphere in the exhibition with her dreamlike silk velvet paintings featuring shoals of fish, accented with gold leaf and Murano glass eyes that embellish the shimmering surfaces. In her fascinating presentations at WMODA, she explained that her inspiration is drawn from the Venetian lagoon and canals, which are part of her daily life. 

Anna’s exquisite work reflects her deep connection to her heritage, combining Murano glass with traditional Venetian tapestries dyed with natural pigments. Her marine-inspired color palette, with its delicate nuances, adds to the velvet’s lustrous sheen, creating an underwater paradise. Anna’s Joyful Fish sculptures often leap out of the water and swim through the air, as in her fabulous WMODA installation. 

Splash! visitors are also having fun taking photos with the mermaid tail, loaned by Ocean Rescue Alliance International. Their 1,000 Mermaids Project is raising awareness of Florida’s endangered coral reefs, which are dying from disease and bleaching.  ORAI has fused marine biology with art to create underwater sculpture gardens within an artificial coral reef, helping restore critical marine life. The Guardians of the Sea reef has become an innovative eco-tourist attraction and an exciting destination for divers and snorkelers to explore off Hollywood’s coast. 

Take a deep dive into the Splash! exhibition on Walk-in Wednesday at WMODA, March 18, at 11:00 am, when Louise Irvine, Executive Director & Curator, will highlight the featured artists.
Mar. 18 Walk-in Wednesday: Dive into Splash!

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Splash into WMODA!
Splash! Exhibition