Chihuly Garden and Glass – Artistry and Nature Combined

Sharing is caring!

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, Washington, is the perfect marriage of natural and artistic beauty.  This is the must visit attraction while visiting the area.

Inspired by the color and movement of nature, this exhibition combines greenery and blossoms with kinetic, colorful glass installations that explode with color and movement. Everywhere you look, you’ll find a visual feast. 

If you are looking to view more Chihuly Glass and Art, and aren’t close to Seattle, The Biltmore has a Chihuly Exhibition until January 5.  CHIHULY AT BILTMORE

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is the brainchild of the Wright family which constructed the Seattle Center in 1962 for the World’s Fair. Working with Dale Chihuly, they’ve focused on reinvigorating the Seattle Center and promoting the arts through his creative, kinetic works and the gardens – both of which explode with color and movement. 

The exhibition includes eight galleries, along with the centerpiece Glasshouse and a lush garden that bursts with as much color as Chihuly’s artwork.

Through the eight galleries and three Drawing Walls, visitors will be treated to a comprehensive and vibrant collection of Dale Chihluy’s work. The works demonstrate how his work has pushed the boundaries of glass as an artform, along with its execution and presentation. 

Make sure to look at these pieces up close.

Guests will also be amazed by the massive Glasshouse and the works within it. The centerpiece of Chihuly Garden and Glass, this 40-foot tall glass and steel structure covers 4,500 square feet of light-drenched space.

The Glasshouse contains a massive 100-foot-long glass sculpture in reds, oranges, yellows, and amber. One of the largest suspended structures ever made by Chihuly, this installation’s magic lies in the way it captures the light, offering a different feel as the light changes throughout the day.   It was wonderful we had such a beautiful day to see this display against a blue sky.

After reviewing my photos, I realized I caught a glimpse of the Space Needle from the inside as well.  You had a great view when in the garden area.

Finally, The Garden is the perfect marriage of artistic and natural beauty. interspersed throughout the foliage and blooms, visitors will find Chihuly’s work, perfectly situated to highlight and enhance both the plants and the glasswork.

As the plants grow and change throughout the year, so does the experience that visitors will have when they visit it. Plus, you are right under another Seattle iconic sculpture, the Space Needle.

There’s even chandeliers in the garden

My Favorite Display – Winter Brillance

This isn’t a black and white photo, it’s actually a white display which was commissioned by Barneys of New York for their holiday window display.  So unique to other creations you see done by Chihuly.

I love it as I’ve always loved black and white, and especially black and white photography.

Per Dave Chihuly “Ice is one of my favorite materials to work with because of the way it interacts with light.  It inspired me to create the icicle form”

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, and was introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. Immediately taken with the medium, after graduating in 1965, he enrolled in the first glass program in the country at the University of Wisconsin.

Thereafter, he continued his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he later established the glass program, which he taught for over a decade. 

After receiving the Fulbright Fellowship in 1968, Dale continued his glassworking at the Venini glass factory in Venice, Italy. There, he learned the team’s approach to blowing glass, a method that remains a critical part of his work today. Later, in 1971, he cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State.

Through his international glass center, he has and continues to lead the way in avant-garde fine art glass. 

Chihuly’s work is included in over 200 museum collections across the globe, and his series of well-known works including Cylinders, Baskets, Eaforms, Niijima Floats, and more have cemented him as the most prolific and creative glass artist in the world, and he’s sharing that spirit of artistry with visitors at Chihuly Garden and Glass. 

 

Visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is open year-round, with hours occasionally adjusted for private events. The exhibition is open seven days a week and hours do vary.

For tickets, you can buy a combo ticket for Chihuly and the Space Needle, but if you are visiting several attractions, consider the CityPASS.  Watch for my post soon about the Seattle CityPASS.

 

A few more things you will find around Chihuly Garden and Glass

Live glass blowing demonstrations

 

The Theater – presenting short videos about Dave Chihuly and his works

How many bottle openers do you have?

The Bar at Chihuly

Take a break and grab a snack or one of their signature cocktails.  Don’t forget to look up.  It’s also has many of Chihuly’s drawings on display.

 

Just a few more favorite photos

This reminded me of a rock candy stick

A favorite chandelier, looks like beautiful worms

The Persian Ceiling

Another white art display

 

Other Chihuly Exhibits

Besides CHIHULY AT BILTMORE, you can find another temporary exhibit at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art THEN AND NOW

Sharing is caring!