STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.- Lino Tagliapietra is considered by many to be the greatest glass blower in history. His influence on a whole generation of artists has been profound. He has been a mentor and a motivator. An innovator. A change-maker. And now in his 80's, he's still pushing the bounds to see what both the material and the man can do.

Schantz Galleries is presenting their first exhibition of the summer, "LEGENDARY", to celebrate the artist and the work of Maestro Lino Tagliapietra, one of the most distinguished and influential glass sculptors in the world. Guests will experience a collection of works incorporating both classic as well as Tagliapietra's most recent leaded glass panels which he created during the pandemic, proving the artists commitment to his creative process.

Lino has said that "an exhibition is a long process made of life experiences. Every object represents something I would like to be - like a tree that has many branches. It is crucial to recognize Lino-the roots-in each object." Like the branches of a tree, the works by Lino in this exhibition unfurl in many directions, all the while retaining the quintessential qualities of their creator.

Tagliapietra continues to experiment and push the glass medium in his quest to bring to light a new format, fusing his own patterns with his design sensibilities. His passion for expression and creativity is a constant in whatever he chooses to work at. This is best represented by Lino's latest series highlighted in this exhibition. These include the dramatic "Dream of a Long Winter" series, produced during the past two years and the result of his ongoing exploration and commitment to his art. The process of making these panels has been a source of comfort and resilience for Tagliapietra during the pandemic, and he hopes that by sharing the resulting work, viewers will absorb and experience those same feelings of hopefulness and zest for life in the face of their own hardships. Lino has long been interested in the beauty of light through glass and has admired stained glass windows in his native Venice, as well as on his international travels.

Lino Tagliapietra was born in 1934 in Murano, Italy and became an apprentice glassblower at 11 years old. He exhibited an immense dexterity for glass and was appointed the title of "Maestro"-an honor reserved for only the best glassblowers-when he was just 21. In 1979, Lino visited Seattle for the first time and introduced students at the Pilchuck Glass School to the long tradition of Venetian glassblowing. This cross-cultural collaboration helped shape the identity of American glassblowing and offered Lino an opportunity to expand his horizons internationally. His work is held in permanent and private collections worldwide, including: the Norton Museum, Palm Beach, Florida; Tokyo National Modern Art Museum, Japan; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. He has taught throughout the U.S. and internationally including in Australia, Turkey, and Japan. World-renowned and revered for his incredible manipulation of glass and innovative creations, the Maestro splits his time between Murano, Italy and Seattle, Washington.