I got a sneak peek at the Davide Salvadore exhibition at William Traver Gallery in Tacoma, and I'm glad I got to see it.

Salvadore is a Venetian glass artist from Murano, the glass art capital of the world. His art reflects the colorful traditions not of Venice, but of Africa. Strange but true, and so, so beautiful.

Salvadore is showing a series of highly decorative glass sculptures based on musical instruments and African tapestry. All of his pieces are alike, yet different. Each is a convex gourd shape with a rounded body, or belly, and a long, sensuously curved neck. Each has a sound hole such as on a guitar or other stringed musical instrument with strings stretching from the neck down and across the sound hole. Each is decorated with highly elaborate carvings and other surface patterns, and finally, each has decorative glass beads dangling from the neck. Despite all of those similarities from piece to piece, there is tremendous variety in shape, pattern and texture. Or implied texture.

Read my full review here.

Davide Salvadore

Through July 3, Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m., opening reception Saturday, June 19, 5-8 p.m.
William Traver Gallery, 1821 E. Dock St., Tacoma
253.383.3685