Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018.

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018 (detail).

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. The artist Diane Hansen with her artwork. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018.

Artwork copyright Diane Hansen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Terry Rishel, 2018.

Shelter, 2018

Diane Hansen
(American, born 1961)

Location: Olympia Regional Learning Academy, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Shelter is a beehive-like structure created by artist Diane Hansen for the entrance of Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA). The glass and aluminum artwork reflects the diversity and unique character of ORLA, a school for non-traditional and independent learners.

Hansen invited students and the community to think of themselves as honeybees and contribute drawings for the artwork. Hansen scanned the students' drawings to create over 200 decals. She then fused these decals between layers of colored glass to create cells of a honeycomb. Just as each source of pollen creates honey with a different color and a different character, each glass cell is unique. Hansen notes, "A beehive houses a community which works both individually and collectively. Bees gather pollen and nectar, which they take back to the hive and create honey. The honey produced is used to subsist on later. In much the same way, the students gather information about their world as they go through the educational system. They learn how to work with themselves and others. Each has a unique approach to their learning, an individual experience like no other."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Olympia School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tacoma-based artist Diane Hansen creates fine art glass sculptures and installations for public spaces. She teaches at Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle and owns Metropolitan Glass, a studio in Tacoma, Western Washington. She has served as a guest artist for the Hilltop Glass Program and the Museum of Glass (both in Tacoma), and at Salisbury University in Maryland. She studied at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington, and at Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle. She previously studied at St. Martin's College in Lacey, Western Washington, and at Arizona State University in Tempe.