Believe the Impossible

Believe the impossible as you explore “Through the Looking Glass” at WMODA to celebrate the United Nations International Year of Glass and Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week.

The new season of cutting-edge exhibitions and events is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s surreal story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where she experiences a topsy turvy world not unlike the world today!  

“Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast...” said the White Queen as she challenges Alice’s imagination. See how glass artists collaborate at WMODA to create the impossible and shatter our illusions of glass. It’s hard to believe that fire and sand can be transformed into glass and that blowing bubbles of glass can create amazing art.  

Take a trip down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass on Saturday, January 22, 2022. You will be blown away by live performances in the spectacular setting of Chihuly’s magical “garden” of glass. His flowers won’t answer back as in Alice’s looking glass garden but they are certainly otherworldly!  

Experience six impossible things “Beyond the Bubble” at WMODA

1. A cool fashion show of wearable hot glass in Wonderland

2. Innovative performances inspired by the sounds of glass  

3. Chihuly’s glass ceilings reimagined as magic carpets 

4. Zany underwater art of Alice and the Mad Hatter   

5. Stiletto shoes made of glass to make Alice swoon  

6. Hearts and mirrors reflecting love and kindness to guide your way 

It is 150 years since Lewis Carroll launched Through the Looking Glass after Alice’s earlier adventures in Wonderland. The young heroine experiences issues with intercultural communication which she overcomes with her curiosity, courage, and believing in the impossible.

Wearable Glass in Wonderland 

At the stroke of noon on January 22, glass art at WMODA will come to life as the iconic characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland show off their zany costumes in a fashion show featuring wearable glass art. Alice will follow the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass to the Mad Hatter’s tea party. On her way, she will encounter some of the bizarre residents of Wonderland including the formidable Queen of Hearts, the Duchess, and the grinning Cheshire Cat presented by fashion designer and glass artist Chelsea Rousso. It gets “curiouser and curiouser” as Chelsea is also working with fine art photographer Suzanne Barton to reimagine Alice’s impossible dreamscape underwater. Highlights of their unbelievable collaboration will be exhibited as part of this event. Limited pre-reserved seats* for the fashion show should be booked through Eventbrite.  

Resonance @ WMODA

Also on January 22nd, multi-disciplinary artist Dave Rosenthal and glass artist Rob Stern are collaborating to explore sound and glassmaking in their live performances of Resonance @ WMODA. They will unite glass and sound design in their improvisational dialogue with unusual glass instruments made and played by Rob and keyboard responses composed by Dave to create a musical score of synthesized sounds. Rob and Dave’s innovative performances of Resonance @ WMODA symbolize the cycle of life and creation in the glassmaking process. This immersive sensory experience will create a visceral response and expand perceptions of glass, the power of sound and their intersection. Resonance @ WMODA will be performed live on January 22nd at 11am and 2pm. Limited pre-reserved seats* for the Resonance performances should be booked through Eventbrite. Donations benefit the educational 

programs at WMODA, a 501c3 not-for-profit museum.

For more information, visit www.wmoda.com.