“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Proverbs 11:25
We are back in Seattle today! Last week, we took you along with us to Pike Place Market and I sure hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! While we were visiting the Pacific Northwest, we covered a lot of ground…and saw a lot of interesting sites! Early one morning, hoping to beat the crowds, Butch and I trekked out for a two minute ride on the monorail to visit the iconic Space Needle! Since neither of us had ever been, we expected to go to the top, catch a nice view of the city, come right back down, and be on our way.
As we made our way to the ticket counter, I realized we could buy a combo ticket that included the Chihuly Garden and Glass, located adjacent to the Needle. Now truth be known, I had planned to visit the exhibition, but had not yet mentioned it to Butch, thinking he would not be interested. At the suggestion to purchase the combo tickets, he responded…”Who is Chihuly”? I reminded him of the spectacular ten million dollar chandelier in the lobby at the Bellagio in Las Vegas made by Mr. Chihuly (he didn’t seem to remember).
But all it took was a trip to the top of the Space Needle. Once at the observation deck, we could see over into the Chihuly Garden, and Butch’s interest level was piqued! Being the artsy kind, I knew I would love it, but the fact that Butch was totally captivated by the sheer scope of Chihuly’s work was a pleasant surprise! This exhibition was one of the highlights of our trip to Seattle!!! Although the pictures cannot do his work justice, sit back and enjoy this feast for the eyes!
As we entered the “Glass Forest”, the first room of the exhibit, we were both taken by the unbelievable talent of Dale Chihuly. We just stood and admired this very fluid glass sculpture made in the early 1970’s.
Neon was introduced inside the pieces which was very innovative during the early ’70’s.
The “Northwest Room” showcases these beautiful Native American weavings that Chihuly has collected. He was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He was introduced to glass while studying interior design. In 1968, after receiving a Fullbright Fellowship, Chihuly went to work at the Venini glass factory in Venice. There he observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the “Sea Life Room” reflects Chihuly’s love for the sea. The sea life tower is 20 feet high.
The tower’s fluid motion represents the waves of the sea
Standing beneath the “Persian Ceiling” was a breathtaking experience! It was hard to take it all in, the colors and shapes are magnificent!
“I want people to be overwhelmed with light and color in a way they have never experienced.” -Dale Chihuly
I have never seen such an explosion of color and form as when I laid my eyes on the “Mille Fiori”!!
“Mille Fiori”, a thousand flowers in Italian, is a glass garden of bold and unexpected forms that are rich and vibrant in color.
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Chihuly was greatly influenced as a child by his mother’s beautiful and colorful garden.
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Notice the use of primary colors… this glass sculpture just left me speechless!
By the time we entered the “Ikebana and Float Boat Room, I thought for sure Chihuly had exhausted all the colors and shapes, but once again, what amazing artistry!
These sculptures were inspired by the experience of Chihuly in Nuutajärvi, Finland during the mid 1990’s.
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His personal wooden boats were used for this exhibit.
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There were many beautiful chandeliers in the exhibit, but I am only sharing this one!
“I woke up one morning and said I want to hang chandeliers over the canals of Venice, my favorite city. I probably took that to extreme with the chandelier series which I started in 1992.”
In September 1996, Dale Chihuly successfully concluded his monumental project, Chihuly Over Venice, with the installation of fourteen immense glass chandeliers throughout the fabled city of Venice.
Exiting the indoor exhibition, we entered this extraordinary glass house! Chihuly was greatly influenced by a lifetime collection of photos of glass houses and conservatories. The asymmetrical glass house contains one gigantic sculpture that is 100 feet long and 25 feet high of mostly reds, yellows, and oranges!
The lovely gardens are about 26,000 square feet. The landscaping was designed around several large glass installations.
The landscape was centered around the installations and actually came in second behind the glass sculptures.
Glass lavender reeds identify this space.
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The yellow sun sculpture is elevated in front of the glass house.
Chihuly’s work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide
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Butch and I loved the cafe hallway ceiling lined with old accordions! What a brilliant idea to use these instruments in a different artistic manner!
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Dale Chihuly is a premier glass artist, teacher of others, and the man responsible for redefining modern glass sculpture as fine art.
I was so excited to share this amazing body of art work with you. I hope you enjoyed visiting through my camera lens!
Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, Poofing The Pillows, What Meegan Makes, Celebrate & Decorate
I think you will agree that visiting here is quite an experience.
Loved it, Linda! The Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a Chihuly exhibit running through the end of October. I plan to visit!
Amazing and beautiful. God enables his people with unbelievable talent.
Thanks for sharing. Nice to learn about Dale Chihuly such an amazing artist.
Yes, Bonnie! God is the giver of amazing talent! Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a Chihuly exhibit running through October 30th. I am planning to visit! Happy Tuesday!
Thank you for sharing your trip. I live in a small village in the mountains of New Mexico. We’re lucky to have a wonderful display of Chihuly’s work here at the Spencer Theater. It’s a 25′-30′ red chili Christmas tree commissioned by Jackie Spencer. It is amazing.
Sandy, that is wonderful that you have a Chihuly piece in your small village! I have admired his work for years! Blessings~
Stunning!!!!
We have a similar chandelier at our local art center, and to have it cleaned, we had to call the artist to come back to town and disassemble it. I can’t imagine what this place goes through to keep everything dust free! These works are absolutely beautiful. So glad you showed us the photos.
Leslie Anne, I can’t seem to keep my few chandeliers in my home dust free! Chihuly is truly an amazing artist!
Muchas gracias Pam por mostrar estas maravillas. El arte del cristal, precisa de unas cualidades que no todo el mundo posee. Se necesita ser paciente, sereno, creativo al máximo y muy hábil y experto en la materia. Eso no se consigue de la noche a la mañana por eso debe ser paciente.
Es una de las artes más difíciles. Indudablemente Chihuly lo era.
Todo un alarde de imaginación, creatividad y una fiesta del color.
Dolores
Pam thank you very much for showing these wonders. Glass art, requires qualities that not everyone possesses. They need to be patient, serene, full creative and very skilled and skilled. This is not achieved in the overnight so be patient.
It is one of the most difficult arts. Chihuly undoubtedly was.
A great show of imagination, creativity and a celebration of color.
Dolores
Dolores, las esculturas de vidrio y el jardín eran tan increíble. Gracias a mi amigo para sus visitas fieles a nuestro blog! Envío de amor, Pam
Dolores, the glass sculptures and garden were so amazing. Thank you my friend for your faithful visits to our blog! Sending love, Pam
Tus reportajes me dan serenidad, me llevan a lugares hermosos que me encantan y en estos momentos duros no te puedes hacer una idea de lo beneficiosos que son para mí. La agradecida soy yo.
Dolores
Your reports give me serenity, take me to beautiful places that I love and in these hard times you can not get an idea of how beneficial they are for me. I’m grateful.
Dolores
Dolores, Estoy buscando el correo electrónico de que ha indicado que ha enviado a mí. Nos habían desaparecido durante 7 días, así que debe de haber dejado de verlo. Voy a encontrarlo y responder! Abrazos, Pam
I am amazed. Would love to visit here myself! Thanks for sharing this incredible exhibit.. Linda
Linda, the color was unbelievable!
Fabulous Pam – a real feast for the eyes both inside and out, what a wonderful experience.
Joy, it was an amazing exhibit! The Atlanta Botanical Gardens has an exhibit of his work until the end of October, so I am planning a visit!
Chihuly is a genius! This body of work is mesmerizing, and thank you for sharing your view, Pam! This is definitely on my list of must sees when we get to the Pacific NW.
Rita, you MUST see this glass and garden when you visit the Pacific NW!
WOW!! I loved the sculptures and lights that I saw in Vegas, but I had no idea who did them or that he was such a well known artist. I believe that I saw lots of his work at the Atlantis in the Bahamas also, as it is really unmistakable! Thanks for sharing this.
🙂 gwingal
Nikki, his work is on exhibit in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens until the end of October! I think I must visit!
Beautiful! I’ve seen Chihuly’s art two times. A couple of years ago it was placed outdoors at The Dallas Arboretum and it was amazing. How fun. 🙂
Thanks, Stacey! Chihuly’s work is on exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, so I am planning a visit!
So glad you brought this beauty back for the garden party, Pam. I loved the Chihuly Glass exhibit when it was at the Dallas Arboretum one summer. 🙂
Stacey, Chihuly is on exhibit at the Biltmore Gardens, I am hoping to go!
What a beautiful exhibit! As Stacey mentioned, there was an exhibition, here, at The Dallas Arboretum, a couple of years ago. The art is beautiful.
Thanks, Shenita! Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a Chihuly exhibit until the end of October. I am planning to visit
Thanks for sharing the work of this wonderful artist. We were lucky when years ago we were staying at the WAC in Seattle and spotted unique pieces of artwork on the main floor. When we enquired about them, were told they were by Dale Chihuly. We immediately purchased two of the smaller pieces and nothing has ever changed our minds about the beauty of same. We are also glad we bought them when we did as he no longer does pieces for sale to the general public. What a talent and am glad you shared his work with the rest of us!
Margaret, how wonderful that you own two pieces by Chihuly, amazing! The Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a Chihuly exhibition through October and I am planning a visit! Thanks so much for telling me your story! Blessings~
Wow! What gorgeous creations! Thank you for taking us on a tour! I’ll probably never see it in person, so this was a real treat! 🙂 ~Rhonda
So glad you enjoyed and thanks, Rhonda! Photos really can’t compare to seeing it in person!
Chihuly is one of my favorite artists Pam, what a treat to visit this gallery and see so many of his creations all in one place. His fearless use of color and form in an inspiration to all… It must have truly been overwhelming! Thank you for taking us with you!
Jenna
Jenna, thanks…did you know the Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a Chihuly exhibit through October? I definitely plan to go!
I have collected hand blown glass since I was very small. My parents started it for me- when we would go on vacation that is what I would ask for as a souvenir. I love Chihuly!!!! Thank you so much for posting – I think a trip to Seattle is in my future!!!
So neat that you have been collecting glass since you were a child! Love the explosion of colors that he uses! Thanks for the visit and have a safe and happy 4th! ~Blessings
That is amazing! Thanks for sharing your photos. I know it looks even better in person, so if I’m ever in Seattle, that’ll be on my list! 🙂
Kim, if you ever go to Seattle, it is a must see!:)
Thank you for sharing at SYC! 🙂 Jo
Thanks for the lovely party, Anne!
Wow, what an exhibit Pam! I’m sure it was his artwork that was on display here in UT when we hosted the Olympics. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks so much, Jann!
Hi Pam, I’ve seen 2 of his past exhibits but he’s outdone himself this time! Glad you and Butch were able to see the exhibit and the needle! Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos! Blessings, Janet
Oh, thanks so much Janet! We loved his beautiful work! Happy Tuesday!
Pam, I’ve recently become fascinated with Chihuly after seeing some of his installations. I must go to this museum! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. Linda
Linda, the photos really can’t capture the color and forms! The Atlanta Botanical Gardens have a Chihuly exhibit through October, so I have made my plans to visit! Thanks and Happy Tuesday!
Gorgeous photo’s. What a great place to visit! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks, Sherry! It is unbelievable glass sculptures!
How beautiful!
Thanks Sherry! Hope you had a wonderful 4th!
Wow, what a great exhibition! I have only seen one of his shows, much smaller in scale. I love his glass artistry.
Thanks Carole. It was truly amazing!
Wow! Those are amazing photos. We had the chance to visit the Chihuly exhibit in Tampa and my middle son and I just fell in love with his work. He really is quite the artist.
Yes, his work is phenomenal!
Hi! I just joined in on the travel link party as you did! I clicked on your link and here you are! Beautiful captures of Chihuly! We saw his fabulous creations when he was at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix!
Isn’t his work amazing?
I’m amazed by the beauty from his large glass pillars to his flowers and then small glass bowls! Amazing!
How incredibly fascinating! What an amazing exhibit! Thank you for linking up to the Take Me Away party again this month. Definitely something to put on the list for a visit to Seattle. Enjoy your weekend!
Shelley
Alway a pleasure to party with you!
Beautiful pictures – coming over to visit from the Take Me Away link up. The Chihuly museum was one of our favorite places in Seattle when we visited a few years ago.
Thanks for visiting, Tanya!
That was quite an exhibit you got to see. I love his work and have seen some of his pieces and they’re amazing!
His work is currently in the Biltmore Gardens, I hope to go!
Wonderful,Pam! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Maristella!
Pam, what an amazing exhibit of Chihuly’s work and what an equally amazing job you did capturing its beauty. I am going back to Biltmore near dusk as I want to see it at night and some of his work is inside the house. Thanks for sending a link to this. Simply over the top!!
I am so glad you enjoyed, Dianne! Happy Wednesday!