An upcoming exhibition this summer at Blue Rain Gallery will highlight a collaboration between glass artist Preston Singletary and author Garth Stein. The Good, the Bad and the Raven presents new sculptures by Singletary, coupled with lyrical writings by Stein that weave a web of interconnected Raven stories, an iconic figure in Tlingit culture.
Feathers and Illusions, blown and sand-carved glass, 16 x 18 x 10 in.
“Preston Singletary has spent decades redefining the possibilities of contemporary Indigenous art, merging the rich storytelling traditions of his Tlingit heritage with the luminous and transformative medium of glass,” says Blue Rain Gallery’s Leah Garcia. “In The Good, the Bad and the Raven, Singletary and bestselling author Garth Stein continue their compelling creative partnership, using Raven’s timeless voice to explore some of the most pressing issues of our era, including artificial intelligence, social media, environmental change and human connection. Through humor, satire and masterful craftsmanship, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on contemporary life through the lens of one of the most enduring figures in Northwest Coast storytelling.”
Floating on the Water, blown and sand-carved glass, 6 x 14 x 5 in.
For Singletary, his collaboration with Stein began as an opportunity to expand the storytelling possibilities within his work, which are rooted in Tlingit oral tradition. “But visual art and written narrative each speak different languages,” says Singletary. “When Garth responds to the work, he doesn’t simply describe it—he creates a parallel story that opens another pathway into the ideas behind the pieces. What I gain from the collaboration is the chance to see familiar cultural themes through a different lens. Our stories often surprise me, revealing connections I hadn’t consciously considered, while helping audiences engage with the work in a deeper and more imaginative way.”
Stein and Singletary have been friends for nearly 30 years, and though the two have endeavored to work together many times over the years, it wasn’t until 2023 that they finally got together for the Raven series.
Mucous Boy, blown and sand-carved glass, 22 x 9 x 6½in.
“What began as a single show has grown into an ongoing conversation between image and story, glass and language, Raven and the world. Preston’s work gives me a visual and spiritual doorway into the story; my job is not to explain the glass, but to listen to it, follow where it leads, and offer another way into the mythic space Preston has created,” Stein says. “What I gain from the collaboration is permission to play seriously—to enter Raven’s world with humor, reverence, mischief and awe.”
New sculptures in the show include Feathers and Illusions, a piece that speaks to Raven’s essential nature as a shapeshifter and trickster. “Raven is always showing us that what we think we see is not necessarily what is true. Feathers can be disguise, evidence, ornament or transformation. Illusion, in Raven’s world, is not merely deception; it is often the first step toward revelation,” Singletary says.
Stone Man, blown and sand-carved glass, 17 x 11 x 10 in. Photos by Russell Johnson
Floating on the Water is a black-and-white sculpture of a duck in Singletary’s distinct aesthetic. “Floating on the Water grew from a conversation about the nature of oral tradition and the way stories evolve as they are passed from one generation to the next,” he explains. “In the accompanying story, Raven and Eagle debate different versions of an ancient flood narrative, ultimately suggesting that living stories are not fixed but adapt and change with each retelling. The duck references one version of the flood story in which people wrapped themselves in duck skins so they could float upon the rising waters. What interested us was the idea that survival is not only physical but cultural—that memory, language and stories themselves are carried forward across generations. The duck becomes a symbol of passage, resilience and continuity, honoring traditions that remain alive precisely because they continue to evolve.”
The Good, the Bad and the Raven will be on view from August 14 to 27, with an opening reception the first day from 5 to 7 p.m. —
Blue Rain Gallery
August 14-27, 2026
544 S. Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 954-9902 www.blueraingallery.com
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