Meet The Artist
Introduction
Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation and a Skagit Valley based artist. He has spent the last 30 years creating works primarily in glass.
The themes and images of Friday’s work are often drawn from his Coast Salish heritage and are solidified in the world of glass art.
Dan has taught at the University of Washington, Evergreen State Collage, Pilchuck Glass School, Pendland School of Craft, Chrysler Museum, and the Haystack Craft Center.
In 2017 Dan started the Native Youth outreach Program at the Pilchuck Glass School.
He has had residencies at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, the Burke Museum in Seattle Wa, the Corning Museum NY, Pendland Craft School NC, Chrysler Museum Norfolk Va, Torunga Wai Wai Gisborne New Zealand, Te Atinga Wai Kato New Zealand, and the Dream Community in Tai Pei, Taiwan.
Friday has been awarded the BIMA Award From Bainbridge Museum of Art, Bill Holm Grant, the People’s choice award from the Bellevue Art Museum, The James Earl Fraser Award from the Prix De West at the National Western Museum, an Artist Trust Fellowship, and the Discovery Fellowship through (SWAIA) the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.
Dan was a contestant on the Netfilx show Blown Away His work can be seen on Fridayglass.com, Many Museums and in private collections around the world.
Artist Statement
Creativity was fostered by my family from an early age. Living without TV and knowing our rich cultural heritage of the Lummi Nation, meant that making things with our hands was a regular activity.
I typically work with simple themes and forms, and often employ the subtle silhouettes of glass when making my totems. It is a pleasure seeing inanimate objects taking on a life of their own. The more narrative work is usually a personal expression or a means of processing a life event, often with an underlying statement.
When I saw glass blowing for the first time, it felt as though I grew an inch! That is to say, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I had finally figured out my path. This was no small feat for someone who, as a youth, was rebellious and misguided. Glass altered my life. In spite of my colorful past, and by the grace of a loving community, I found my passion in glass.
Living as an artist may not be directly saving the world, but perhaps we are saving ourselves and hopefully, in the process, making the world a better place.
Dan Friday
fridayglass.com
fridayglass@gmail.com
CV - Daniel Joseph Friday
Friday Glass - 2007- Owner / Operator of a small hot shop, gallery, and studio in scenic Skagit Valley
Blown Away Season 3 Contestant on Netflix’s Competition show
Dale Chiluly - Boathouse Studio 1999-2024
Worked primarily as a glass blower to collaborate with other studio staff on Chilhuly glass designs that involved a full spectrum of studio events and activities. This experience has led to expanded and perfected technical skills in glass working and increased insight into the relationship and interaction between artist and public.
University of Washington 2019 Teaching in the 3D4M Sculpture Dept
Pilchuck Glass School 1997-present
Started Native youth outreach program in 2017- present
Works as a Teacher, Gaffer, and Coordinator for the Hot Shop, and Wood and Metals dept. Fabricates and facilitates works for international artists.
Tacoma Glass Museum- 2004-Present
Worked on specialized teams of glass artists, As a demonstrator and employee and fabricator.
Preston Singletary-2014-Present
Assisted with glass blowing and demonstrations
Paul Marioni
Casting, and cold working glass tiles for a large-scale installation and various other tasks
Freelance Glass Work
Collaborated and assisted prominent artists in the creation of major glass art commissions and installations.
Artists include;
James Drake, Nicolas Africano, Wendy Maruyama, Joel Otterson, and Charles Ledray to name a few.
Awards
Peoples Choice Award
Bellevue Art Museum 2018
James Earl Fraser Award
Prix De West National Cowboy Museum 2024
BIMA Award
Bainbridge Island Art Museum
Teaching
Penland School of craft 2023
University of Washington 2019
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts 2016
Evergreen State College Longhouse 2015 -2017
Pilchuck Glass School 2014- present
Chrysler Museum 2025
Education
South Seattle Community College
1995 Mechanic Vocational Degree Increased knowledge and skills in
3D visualization, welding, physics, and metal work. Focused on the
internal combustion engine with a minor interest in fabrication techniques.
The Northwest School - Seattle, Washington
1989-1990 Attended a special interest alternative art school with a full scholarship.
Intense studies, in classical art styles and techniques with a focus on ceramics.
Museum Collections
Portland Art museum Sxwo’le (Reef Net) Anchors
Whatcom Museum Aunt Frans Basket
Burke Museum Aunt Fran’s Basket, Sxwo’le Anchor
Corning Museum Dancing Bare
Washington History Museum Aunt Fran’s Basket, Schaenexw (Salmon) Run
Cincinatti Art Museum Sxwo’le Autum Anchor
Museum of Northwest Art Sxwo’le Anchor
Residencies
Corning Museum of Glass Corning - New York
Burke Museum Bill Holm Grant - Seattle, Washington
S.W.A.I.A Discovery Fellowship - Santa Fe, NM.
Tacoma Museum of Glass - Tacoma, Washington
Penland Craft School - Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Dream Community - Shijr City Tai Pei, Taiwan
Te Atinga Wai Kato - Marai, New Zeland
Shows
Washington History Museum - Tacoma, WA.
Museum of Northwest Art - La Conner WA.
San Juan Island Art Museum - San Juan Is., WA
Bellevue Art Museum - Bellevue WA.
Blue Rain Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
Stonington Gallery - Seattle WA.
Hawk Gallery - Columbus OH.
Sandra Ainsley Gallery - Toronto Ontario, CAN.
Habitat Gallery - West Palm Beach, FL.
Smith & Valley Gallery - Edison, WA.
Bainbridge Museum of Art - Bainbridge Is. WA.
White River Valley Museum - Auburn, WA.
Pilchuck Glass School Gallery - Seattle, WA.
Gump’s San Francisco, CA. Trunk Show
Best in Show
S.W.A.I.A Indian Market - Santa Fe, New Mexico 2015
Glass - 1st Place Winner
Urban Lights Studios Seattle, WA.
Star Gallery Tai Pei, Taiwan
Lawrimore Project Seattle, WA.
Day Break Star - Seattle WA. 2008, 09
