ArtSEA: ‘Refract’ reflects Seattle’s shining array of glass art

Among the many free exhibits included in Refract are several venues known for giving regular attention to the ever-evolving medium. Stonington Gallery in Pioneer Square is hosting its annual exhibit Luminosity (through Nov. 30), which celebrates Northwest Native glass artists, including superstars Preston Singletary, Dan Friday and Raven Skyriver. 

Traver Gallery downtown is hosting three contestants from Season 4 of the popular Netflix series Blown Away — a highly bingeable glassblowing reality competition that regularly features Northwest artists.

Taking its name from the show, Blown Away (through Oct. 27; artist mixer Oct. 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) features work by Morgan Peterson, Gemma Hollister and Karen Willenbrink Johnsen and reveals how very different glass art can be: comical, political, goth or ecological. 

And in Traver’s second gallery, Intentionally Accidental (through Oct. 27) features Danish artist Tobias Møhl’s stunningly serene glass vessels, which appear weightless and possibly formed of feathers.

Also downtown, Vetri is showing Line Surface Volume (through Nov. 3), a playful collection of glass objects including text-engraved vessels by Ben Beres and Andi Kovel’s colorful “superchunk” cups that look as if encrusted in Jolly Rancher candies. At the Design Within Reach store, stop in to see Silica (through Oct. 30), a show by Seattle artist Jorge Cainas, who combines silica (a key component of glass), crystal, copper, rock, bones and other finds into intriguing sculptures. 

Gallery Mack’s Northwest Glass Exhibit (through Nov. 9; reception Oct. 19, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) features local experts in the form, including Paula Stokes and Paul Cunningham. At Method Gallery, you’ll find the aforementioned green glass lungs, as well as a room draped in glass seaweed by Kait Rhoads for Proto Kelp (through Oct. 19; artist talk Oct. 19, 2 p.m.).