another visionary…Chihuly

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As I mentioned in the last post, we visited the New York Botanical Gardens in 2006 when Dale Chihuly glass sculptures were on display. Not just a few chandeliers, MANY. Not just a few little installations of his orbs, spike, tendrils – MANY. It was extraordinary. My friend Anne and I were clicking away on the cameras, but we also took time to just admire. To just experience it. It was special to share the experience with my daughter and her friend who were 10 at the time. Both of them fancied themselves roving reporters with film. Loved seeing them dash around the grounds, trying to get the most artistic view in the frame.

I had watched many of Chihuly's videos and understood the passion he brings to the process, with enough enthusiasm to power up the teams who create on location – like Venice. That was my favorite. Could you imagine being there and seeing colorful glass balls bobbing along the canal? When you reflect on what he does – creating all those pieces, wrapping and shipping, unwrapping and assembling on location…..it makes you even more in awe that someone would go to those lengths to share beauty. A visionary.

Last summer on our road trip we stayed in an Indianapolis hotel with a lobby jewel. Fallon and I gasped because we knew who made it. Lovely.

If you are in Florida, near Coral Gables…..you have plenty of time to make plans before the end of May….

Comments

14 responses to “another visionary…Chihuly”

February 28, 2015

Barbara Poe

I haven’t gone yet. I have seen him the last two times that he was here. Also went to see his Orlando and St. Petersburg installations. Needless to say, I love his work. I have DVDs of many of his installations, Also there is an exhibit of Frida and Diego at the Ft. Lauderdale museum.

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February 28, 2015

Barbara Poe

I haven’t gone yet. I have seen him the last two times that he was here. Also went to see his Orlando and St. Petersburg installations. Needless to say, I love his work. I have DVDs of many of his installations, Also there is an exhibit of Frida and Diego at the Ft. Lauderdale museum.

Reply
February 28, 2015

Deborah Bain

Michelle, I have seen Chihuly’s work at Fairchild Gardens a very long time ago. Absolutely Breathtaking! Thanks for posting this 🙂

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February 28, 2015

Deborah Bain

Michelle, I have seen Chihuly’s work at Fairchild Gardens a very long time ago. Absolutely Breathtaking! Thanks for posting this 🙂

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February 28, 2015

Marlynn

He has an incredible work of art in Nashville at the Gaylord Hotel. I watched in awe as a hotel worker cleaned the glass and have a video of it. Awesome.

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February 28, 2015

Marlynn

He has an incredible work of art in Nashville at the Gaylord Hotel. I watched in awe as a hotel worker cleaned the glass and have a video of it. Awesome.

Reply
February 28, 2015

Sherry

I am so glad that you introduced me to this work when we were at the shop. Two years ago my housemate and I were in Grand Rapids for Labor Day. We went to the Fred Meijer Botanical Garden because of the art and the flowers. It was a hot hot day and I couldn’t go on after the 4 hour hike without something to perk me up. I’m glad my stomach told me to be nice to it or we would have missed the display in the cafeteria. The housemate didn’t really understand the gobsmacked squeeeeee that came out of me when I saw the chandelier. So I explained Chihuly, your influence and the videos. She was kinda impressed with the chandelier after that. When we walked into the sitting area there were levels so far beyond gobsmacked I just don’t have word for it.
The ceiling was covered in PERSIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took a lot of photos for me to feel like we could leave. Thank God for digital! I can’t even guess how much it would have cost in old film just for the glass let alone the Sforza horse.

Reply
February 28, 2015

Sherry

I am so glad that you introduced me to this work when we were at the shop. Two years ago my housemate and I were in Grand Rapids for Labor Day. We went to the Fred Meijer Botanical Garden because of the art and the flowers. It was a hot hot day and I couldn’t go on after the 4 hour hike without something to perk me up. I’m glad my stomach told me to be nice to it or we would have missed the display in the cafeteria. The housemate didn’t really understand the gobsmacked squeeeeee that came out of me when I saw the chandelier. So I explained Chihuly, your influence and the videos. She was kinda impressed with the chandelier after that. When we walked into the sitting area there were levels so far beyond gobsmacked I just don’t have word for it.
The ceiling was covered in PERSIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took a lot of photos for me to feel like we could leave. Thank God for digital! I can’t even guess how much it would have cost in old film just for the glass let alone the Sforza horse.

Reply
March 4, 2015

Carrie

*drool* My mom is a huge Chihuly fan, too, and I really like his work but probably not quite as much as she does 😉 My parents got to see an installation of his in Seattle last fall, but Mr. Pocket and I didn’t have enough time out there to make it.

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March 4, 2015

Carrie

*drool* My mom is a huge Chihuly fan, too, and I really like his work but probably not quite as much as she does 😉 My parents got to see an installation of his in Seattle last fall, but Mr. Pocket and I didn’t have enough time out there to make it.

Reply
March 12, 2015

Caatje

Gorgeous! In the Victoria & Albert in London there is a huge Chihuly chandelier above the entrance hall. I’m always in awe when I see it and stand underneith, but I’m also a tiny bit terrified it’s gonna somehow come off the ceiling and crash to pieces right on top of me. 😉

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March 12, 2015

Caatje

Gorgeous! In the Victoria & Albert in London there is a huge Chihuly chandelier above the entrance hall. I’m always in awe when I see it and stand underneith, but I’m also a tiny bit terrified it’s gonna somehow come off the ceiling and crash to pieces right on top of me. 😉

Reply
March 18, 2015

Ann Kirschner

I was there too in 2006 at the NY Botanical Gardens. My daughter was 8 and a reluctant visitor until I handed her the camera! And then I could enjoy just looking. We all loved the blending of plants and glass art.

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March 18, 2015

Ann Kirschner

I was there too in 2006 at the NY Botanical Gardens. My daughter was 8 and a reluctant visitor until I handed her the camera! And then I could enjoy just looking. We all loved the blending of plants and glass art.

Reply