Chihuly

Threw an amazing party for the opening of the Dale Chihuly exhibit in June. It was incredible - his work is really just awe-inspiring. Every corner turned revealed a new and breathtaking room to explore. The rooms were all black (for the most part) with his pieces being up- and backlit for effect. There was one smaller room set aside with a film, looped, of him working in an amphitheatre style setting - creating these pieces with his team on the floor while a crowd watched and cheered as each piece was completed. Just to see them work together - to create on the fly - the dance they do around glass as it's being shaped and pulled and morphed - it was hard to turn away. It's one of the most amazing exhibits I've seen at the museum - thrilled to have been a part of it in some way.

While I love is work, I was excited to learn he's not just a glass artist - but also an artist in the more traditional sense - pen, charcoal, paint on paper. His work on paper comes to life in his glass, as a template or guide for his team, but it's those pieces that I loved almost equally as much. For me, to own one of his works on paper is more interesting than a piece of his glass. It's like Botero's bronzes, or Picasso's pen and ink's - stepping outside their notoriety and into another place. Once piece of Chihuly glass wouldn't suffice, wouldn't be nearly as grand as it should be - but 1 beautifully framed sketch (and I use that term loosely, it's decidedly more than just a sketch - it's a full blown work of art) of his would have me swoon.

Put that on my list of must have's - I'll check that off soon.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the exhibit itself - they don't do it justice - it's something to you need to experience in person.






















These lavender spikes, as i call them, rose out of the tree trunks
and they were each about 10 feet tall. Simply gorgeous.





















These balls rested in a boat - a full size wooden boat. The
balls ranged from around 8 inches to 3 feet in size. Every
color and combination imaginable. The picture above only
captures the middle section!





















This was the grande finale - a massive room with the most
amazing collection of pieces - orbs, pods, spikes, flowers,
twisty entwined masterpieces. The room was about 40+
feet long - this shot is looking down through the work.





















This unfocused shot (apologies) is taken at the other end of
the 'finale' room. You can see the twisty piece visible in the
above picture and again in this shot.


Enjoy! xx K