Avalon Glassworks is supporting Northwest Hope & Healing by creating 12 giant blown art glass floats to be auctioned at the July 8, 2010 West Seattle Art Walk. TILA Real Estate in the West Seattle Junction will host the silent auction 6pm to 9pm. These exquisite, 10-inch-diameter art pieces have been specially created and donated to raise awareness for local non-profit Northwest Hope & Healing, which supports women diagnosed with cancer.

Not only beautiful, floats represent buoyancy. Just as the Northwest Hope & Healing mission is to assist women in the healing process through non-medical support services, floats are literally and symbolically uplifting.

Originally utilitarian objects, blown glass fishing floats were used a century ago by fishermen from the far East to float their nets. Sometimes, they broke away from the nets and continued their own unintended journeys. Lucky finders recognized beauty in these battered floats with mysterious origins. But old floats are rare finds today. So, in the spirit of unintended journeys, Avalon Glassworks creates them new to lift spirits, raise awareness, and elevate the humble float to a higher art.

One hundred percent of the money raised through the "Hope" Floats silent auction will benefit Northwest Hope & Healing.

Avalon Glassworks has been a West Seattle institution since 1993 and is known for a contemporary blown glass style. Visit the studio and gallery to find colorful art glass made on-site. Avalon Glassworks is open daily, next door to Luna Park Cafe, at the foot of the West Seattle Bridge.