Where: Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. St. Petersburg FL When: Mon Sep 10 10am – 5pm May 19 through October 14 - Global + Local: Studio and Contemporary Glass on Florida’s West Coast.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. Mon. through Sat. - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday - noon to 5 p.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667. Curated by Jennifer Hardin, Chief Curator, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FloridaWith its intense sunlight and coastal environment, Florida is ideal for appreciating contemporary glass. There are exceptional glass collections in the State of Florida, but our region, from Clearwater to Naples, has particularly strong examples of studio and contemporary glass in both private and public collections. This exhibition contains over 60 works drawn from more than 10 collections located on Florida’s West Coast and will showcase some of the area’s best glass, rarely presented to the public, and will highlight the Museum’s recent acquisitions in glass, including major works by Therman Statom and Michael Glancy.Global + Local reveals the range and richness of glass collections in the area, from such internationally renowned artists as Harvey Littleton, Richard Ritter, Lino Tagliapietra, Bertil Vallien, Dale Chihuly, William Morris, Sonja Blomdahl, Dante Marioni, Toots Zinsky, and Yoichi Ohira to Duncan McClellan, Owen Pach, and Chuck Boux who have a strong presence in the region. Collectors on Florida’s West Coast have acquired regionally and travelled extensively: one collection contains a number of works by Australian artists, rarely found in this area; another has collected glass by the prominent Venetian artist Antonio Seguso and the innovative Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien.This compelling and diverse exhibition is part of a nation-wide celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement. The MFA is proud to be one of over 160 glass events and exhibitions nationwide participating in this landmark celebration organized by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass.