Tuesday, October 21, 2014

More Chihuly Dreams in Silica









Blue Icicle Towers

The Denver Botanic Gardens 
is currently showcasing 
the first major outdoor exhibit
of Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures
in the Rocky Mountain region.

Chihuly's awe-inspiring
glass installations
have graced gardens,
museums, and cities
worldwide.





The Ever-Patient Terry and I 
took in the Chihuly Exhibit
several weekends ago 
on a beautiful autumn weekend.






The scale of Chihuly's exhibit is hard to grasp,
so I will focus on his 
Blue and Purple Boat & Walla Wallas.
This installation is located in
the Denver Botanic Gardens'
serene Japanese Garden
in the northwest corner of the botanic gardens.



Chihuly in the Japanese Garden







Chihuly's Blue and Purple Boat & Walla Wallas










Chihuly's walla wallas 
are onion-shaped glass globes
inspired by the walla walla sweet onions
that grow in Washington state's
Walla Walla County.














Chihuly says of his art:
"My work to this day 
revolves around a
simple set of circumstances:
fire, molten glass, 
human breath,
centrifugal force, and gravity."
Source:  Exhibit Sign












Chihuly is credited with revolutionizing 
the studio craft movement 
that developed in the USA after World War II.

He made his greatest discovery in 1963, 
when he accidentally blew a glass bubble
and found his life's calling.












Chihuly transcended the traditional methods
and forms of glass making,
and he moved from 
one glass blower forging a piece 
to a collaborative and communal approach.
source











To me, glass is one 
of the most beautiful art mediums of all,
and Chihuly is my favorite glass artist.









20 comments:

  1. They look awesome, must be great to see in real life. Sure has to take some kind of skill to make them.

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  2. They were great to see, Pat. And I have no clue how it's done so consistently. Glassblowing is something I'd like to see for real sometime. Have a happy day!

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  3. How absolutely exquisite! I once took a glass blowing workshop where we made glass Xmas ornaments by heating glass pipettes with a blow torch and then blowing them out to little round bubbles. My ornaments were pretty consistently lopsided and kinda fugly, but I had fun!

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    1. That sounds like so much fun, Debra! I would love to do that! Have a good one!

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  4. I love the colour! very striking..and what a wonderful talent to have.

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    1. I thought the colors were wonderful too, Dawna! I hope that you have had a happy day!

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  5. A really beautiful series of photos!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda! I love the blues! Happy evening to you!

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  6. Those are stunning. The play of color on the water, the shapes, unexpected and lovely - so well done! Are the photos yours? Regardless, that is a wonderful exhibit. Thanks for sharing...

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    1. thanks, Diana! Yes, the photos are mine! I love to take pictures. Have a happy evening!

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  7. That boat is really spectacular. I like the blue theme today. Your photos rock!

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    1. Thanks, Alex! The blues feel so calming! I love taking photos almost as much as I love writing! Have a good one!

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  8. looks awe-inspiring beautiful

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    1. Thanks, Adam! It was awe-inspiring, and the blue tones were so relaxing. Have a good one!

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  9. Replies
    1. I loved the blue too, Janie! It was just gorgeous!

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  10. Hi Louise, I adore Chihuly and all of his work. I've been lucky enough to see two of his exhibits. This one you've posted about looks AWESOME! I love all that blue. And the boat is so creative and inspiring! Very cool post.

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    1. Thanks, Audrey! Every time I look at that blue, my whole body relaxes! I want to visit his newish museum in Seattle. I'm going to Vegas in the near future, and I hope to visit the Bellagio and see the Chihuly installation in the lobby (for the umpteenth time) and visit his gorgeous shop off the conservatory. Happy day to you, Audrey!

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  11. Chihuly is one of my favorites too. What a beautiful garden walk. I love when the sunlight hits the glass and it shines even prettier. Beautiful images.

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  12. Hi Michelle! Thank you for the encouraging words. I was fascinated with the interplay of sunlight and glass throughout the gardens. Have a great day!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them very much.