Experience the Journey of Light and Transformation

Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight features works from internationally acclaimed artist Preston Singletary (Tlingit American, b. 1963). It tells the story of Raven, who in Tlingit culture transformed the world—bringing light to people via the stars, moon, and sun.

Embark on a multisensory odyssey through the transformation of darkness into light, guided by Raven himself. Witness the brilliance of Singletary’s glass artistry, brought to life through storytelling, original music, coastal Pacific Northwest soundscapes, and stunning projected images.

Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight has been organized by the artist and Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. It was guest curated by Miranda Belarde-Lewis (Tlingit/Zuni), PhD, and the multisensory visitor experience was designed by zoe | juniper.

Image caption: Above, Preston Singletary (American Tlingit, born 1963), Box with the Moon (Dís Lákt), 2018, Kiln-formed and sand-carved glass, neon lighting; steel base, TX.2018.4.49, [S18-59]. Courtesy of the artist.

About Preston Singletary:

Singletary’s art has become synonymous with the relationship between Tlingit culture and fine art. His glass sculptures deal with themes of Tlingit oral traditions and traditional designs, while also using music to shape his contemporary perspective of Native culture.

Singletary started blowing glass at the Glass Eye studios in Seattle, WA in 1982, where he grew up and continues to work and live. He developed his skills as a production glass maker and attended the Pilchuck Glass School. Singletary began working at the glass studio of Benjamin Moore, where he broadened his skills by assisting Dante Marioni, Richard Royal, Dan Dailey and Lino Tagliapietra. It was there where Singletary started to develop his own work. In 1993 he traveled for work to Sweden where he was influenced by Scandinavian design and met his future wife, Åsa Sandlund.

In 2000 Singletary received an honorary name from elder, Joe David (Nuu Chah Nulth) and in 2009 Singletary received an honorary doctorate degree from University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA). Forty years of glass making, creating music and working together with elders has put him in a position of being a keeper of cultural knowledge, while forging new directions in new materials and concepts of Indigenous arts.

Preston Singletary was one of the contemporary Native artists who appeared in the 2017 Eiteljorg-produced documentary, Native Art Now.