Medusa 

Lino Tagliapietra, born in 1934, made this work, titled "Medusa", in glass. It is an abstraction in blue. Born in Murano, Italy, Tagliapietra apprenticed as a glassblower at the age of eleven, coming of age at a time when Murano glass was seen as decorative. His work has been critical in shifting perceptions and expanding the possibilities of the medium. Here, the undulating lines, the bright blue, it all evokes a sense of the sea. The jellyfish at the center is both beautiful and maybe a little dangerous. How does Tagliapietra invite the viewer to reconsider how gendered narratives are communicated through visual art? It is interesting to see how he uses abstraction to invite a deeper contemplation about the myths of women as monsters. This piece encapsulates an emotional and visual experience. Through the medium of glass, Medusa is transformed from the monstrous to an enchanting vision of the sea.