OPENING: Lino Tagliapietra in person at Heller exhibition Saturday

Maestro Lino Tagliapietra will make a personal appearance at a New York City exhibition of his work.

Living glassblowing legend Lino Tagliapietra will be greeting his collector and fan base during a special appearance at his ongoing Heller Gallery exhibition, which references a Bob Dylan movie in its title “Non Guardare Indietro—Don’t Look Back.” A rock-star of the glass world, Tagliapietra’s assembled work is among his most boldly colored in brash patterning and blending of influences that the exhibition Web page calls “Abstract Expressionist, brutalist and pop-art.”

Lino Tagliapietra, Saba, 2010. Glass. H 26 1/2, W 15 1/2, D 7 in.

In spite of the exhibition title, the 35 works on display make up a presentation that does actually glance backwards, at least back over the past several years. But this is far from a retrospective with the oldest Tagliapietra only dating back to 2004. Four works in the exhibition were made this year, all of them featuring an intense orange in a shade that evokes a brilliant sunset. Though the exhibition will continue through November 13, 2010, tomorrow will be a chance to chat with the Maestro himself in attendance at the gallery from 3 to 6 PM.

More from the exhibition announcement: “The work included in Don’t Look Back, revolves around the central theme of the journey. The nucleus of the exhibition will be an installation of new pieces from the Endeavor and Venice series. Referencing the America’s Cup boat – the Endeavor – Lino’s hanging boats, evoke a sense of grace and adventure, like a fleet embarking. They will be surrounded by six Venice panels which are an abstract representation of the city. The exhibition will also feature a number of blown and cut vessels from the Mandara, Makah, Niomea, Stromboli and Vienna series.”

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