Awareness Post- Dale Chihuly

I first discovered Chihuly when his exhibit came to the VMFA a couple years ago. I remember being mesmerized by the fantastical shapes and curves of glass. The static material seemed to bend and twist as I watched it. His Red Reeds are now a staple at the VMFA, and I am still in awe of their elegance years later.

Chihuly's works are very experimental and innovative. While traditional glass artists worked hard to achieve symmetry, Chihuly departed from this norm and experimented with centrifugal force and physics to create more free flowing, organic shapes with the glass. He also originally began working with weaving, which he then incorporated into his glass through glass threads melted into patterns.

The first piece listed above is the Glasshouse Sculpture, located in Seattle. It demonstrates the fantastical elements of these beautiful glass pieces by making the view look up at these otherwordly shapes. The second and third images above show some of the garden sculptures Chihuly has done, adding extraterrestrial plant life to an otherwise normal landscape. As someone who greatly enjoys fantasy, these forms inspire me and make me feel like I'm in another world.

I am not as much of a fan of the sheets of glass doily-like shapes, simply because they can be very overwhelming. They are full of colors that overlap and cover the whole ceiling. However, I recognize the craftsmanship and the pieces remain impressive in their overwhelming image counterbalanced by incredible fragility.

While I may not enjoy every work, I still consider Chihuly one of my favorite sculpture artists and I am always impressed by his pieces.

https://www.chihuly.com/