Preston Singletary (American Tlingit, b. 1963). Gagaan Awutáawu Yéil (Raven Steals the Sun), Made @ Museum of Glass, 2008, blown, hot-sculpted, sand-carved glass, 9 1/2 x 26 x 9 1/2 ", Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, gift of the artist (VA.2009.28)
Exhibit: Saturday, February 14, through Sunday, August 2
Opening Celebration: Thursday, February 19, 6 – 8 p.m.
Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA
Telling the story of Raven, an important trickster figure in Tlingit culture who transformed the world by bringing light to people via the stars, moon, and sun, Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight will be viewable at Davenport's Figge Art Museum from February 14 through August 2, with the tale of Raven releasing or "stealing" the daylight one of the most iconic stories of the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska.
In Raven and the Box of Daylight, Figge patrons are invited to embark on a multisensory journey from darkness into light as Singletary’s glass art comes alive through storytelling, music, soundscapes, and immersive imagery. Trained extensively in European glass-blowing techniques, Singletary celebrates Tlingit stories, culture, and design principles in his work. The Tlingit are an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and through this exhibition, Singletary adapts an ancient story to bring us into the present, so we can imagine what Raven went through to bring light to the world.
Rooted in Tlingit oral tradition, the exhibition centers on Raven, a powerful trickster figure who transforms the world by releasing light. Rather than treating this story as something fixed in the past, Singletary approaches it as a living narrative, one that evolves as it is retold, reimagined, and shared across generations. His glass sculptures, paired with music, soundscapes, and immersive imagery, create an environment where story is not simply observed, but experienced.
As visitors embark on a multisensory journey from darkness into light, they move through the galleries, following the Raven’s path as the world shifts from shadow into illumination. The exhibition unfolds as a sequence of environments, echoing the structure of oral storytelling itself, layered, rhythmic, and communal.
“What excites me about this exhibition is how naturally it invites people to experience it together,” said Melissa Mohr, Executive Director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum. “Opening Raven and the Box of Daylight on a Second Saturday, when admission is free and the museum is filled with movement, music, and making, sets the tone for how this story has always been shared: openly, across generations, and in community.” This exhibition reflects Singletary’s decades-long practice at the intersection of Indigenous storytelling and contemporary glass.
Singletary, an internationally acclaimed artist of Tlingit heritage, is known for fusing European glassblowing techniques with Northwest Coast Indigenous design principles. By working in glass, a material shaped by breath, heat, and time, he expands expectations of what Indigenous art can be, while honoring the cultural knowledge embedded in formline design, animal spirits, and imagery of transformation.
“Singletary’s use of glass allows the story to feel both intimate and expansive,” said Vanessa Sage, Co-Senior Curator at the Figge Art Museum. “The material carries light, movement, and reflection in ways that mirror how stories move through communities, shaped by many voices and open to interpretation."
Through Singletary’s work, visitors are invited to slow down, follow the story, and consider how meaning is shaped over time and shared over time, through art, memory, and community experience.
In his artist's statement at PrestonSingletary.com, he says: "When I first began working with glass in 1982, I had no idea how deeply I would connect with the material. It wasn’t until I started incorporating Tlingit designs and stories – drawing from my lineage in the Eagle moiety, Kaagwaantaan Box House, Killer Whale clan – that my work took on a deeper sense of purpose. This artistic transformation allowed me to merge ancestral storytelling with a modern medium, giving voice to both my culture and my artistic vision.
"I come from a long line of strong Tlingit women. My great-grandmother, Susie Johnson Bartlett Gubatayo, was born in Sitka, Alaska, in 1880 and later moved to Seattle, where she built a foundation for our family. My grandmother, Lillian Abada, raised my mother, Jean Abada, and my aunties, Andrina Abada and Theresa Sherman, almost entirely on her own. Their influence shaped my identity and instilled in me a profound connection to my heritage – one that continues to guide my work today.
"Over time, my mastery of glassblowing and Tlingit formline design has evolved, deepening my understanding of both my ancestral roots and my chosen craft. This journey has not only shaped my personal artistic expression but has also positioned me as a significant contributor to contemporary Indigenous art.
"Through teaching and collaborating with Native American, Māori, Hawaiian, and Australian Aboriginal artists, I have come to appreciate how glass expands the possibilities of Indigenous art. Indigenous artistic perspectives are deeply tied to ancestral codes, land, and cultural symbolism, and working in glass adds another dimension to these traditions. This exchange of ideas continues to inform and inspire my work.
"My work challenges the notion that Native artists must only use traditional materials. By embracing glass as a storytelling medium, I seek to affirm our presence and identity, reinforcing that Indigenous cultures are dynamic, evolving, and rooted in resilience. Through my art, I strive to amplify Indigenous voices, ensuring that we are seen, heard, and recognized on our own terms.
"As my work continues to evolve, I remain committed to exploring the connections between Tlingit culture and contemporary art movements. I have been honored to witness how my journey has inspired other Indigenous artists to experiment with glass and other non-traditional materials. Moving forward, I hope to continue fostering innovation, pushing the boundaries of Indigenous art, and creating work that resonates across generations."
A free opening reception for Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight will take place on February 19, with the artist speaking on his work at 6 p.m. and the Figge Bar open for food and beverages at 5 p.m. (cards only). The exhibit itself will be on display in the Davenport venue's third- and fourth-floor galleries from February 14 through August 2, with regular museum hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays) and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Museum admission is $8-14, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7804 and visiting FiggeArtMuseum.org.
