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.