Chihuly Glass Artist - Anybody Fans?

I just cambe back from an exhibit of Dale Chihuly's glass art in Malibu, CA. WOW! Any other TC-ers fans of Chihily's work? It was beautiful.

Certified Chihuly-ite here.
The lobby of the Bellagio has tons of Chihuly flowers and spheres.
If you're ever in Tacoma, visit the train station. The main window is filled with giant orange toned flowers, and there's a cobaly blue sculpture that is similar to a gigantic bunch of grapes hanging from the center of the ceiling in the lobby, covering 3 floors. When I visited, you could go up the the second floor and take lots of great pictures of the glass flowers, as well as enjoy the view of the Tacoma Dome off in the distance. The flowers are there to save you from the dull view.
There's also a collection of his spheres at the Schipol airport in the Netherlands.
He's made a few documentaries (for PBS?) that they might still sell at the San Jose Museum of Art.

For more amazing stuff: http://www.chihuly.com

[ Edited by: Zebratiki on 2005-01-09 00:04 ]

Dale Chihuly is actually a very dear friend of a very close friend of our family, when I was growing up we had a few Chihuly pieces around the house from time to time. I never met him myself, but my Mom did. When I was a kid, the local late night sketch comedy show, Almost Live, held a promotion where they smashed a Chihuly with a hammer--they said they were going to make "a thousand little Chihulys!"

I like some of his stuff, but I can't say I'm a big fan, not my favorite NW artist, not even my favorite NW glass artist, but he does some neat stuff.

People who are fans probably already know this, but Chihuly lost one eye many, many years ago in a car accident... he doesn't actually create his glass pieces, because he has no depth perception. He draws his ideas out on big pieces of paper on the floor that he stands over, mainly using charcoals and paint. He then directs a team of folks who actually execute the creation.

I think I saw this guy on a PBS show a year or so ago. He did a bunch of large hanging balls under bridges in Venice, Italy? His work was really cool, but he came across as somewhat of a primadonna. I remember his close-up interviews where he wore an eyepatch. Same guy?

Yep, that's the guy.

Moving his stuff is an adventure in not breaking it.

tg

When I was a kid, the local late night sketch comedy show, Almost Live, held a promotion where they smashed a Chihuly with a hammer--they said they were going to make "a thousand little Chihulys!"

Arrrrrrrrr!!!!

Sounds fun!! Smash it up!!!

I had a friend a while back who dressed up like the chick who got killed by one of those Christo yellow umbrellas. He had a yellow umrella with him also and kept poking everyone. It was classic.

This glass dude reminds me of a Christo type artist .

My wife is a HUGE fan.

I always thought if I were a billionaire, I'd have him make my glass float lamps :)

-Z

ZebraTiki,
Yes, he has several videos available. I have the PBS one "Chihuly Over Venice" Very cool. At the Pepperdine University exhibit, there were 4 other videos. I didn't pick one up but they looked interesting.

I always thought if I were a billionaire, I'd have him make my glass float lamps

Yeah, what would be cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

My wife has always been familiar with Chihuly's work, being an art major in college and all - I on the otherhand was enlightened on the wonderful work he does a bunch of years back when they actually had a gigantic installation of his art at the Baltimore Museum of Art. This was years before he became known for the Bellagio lobby - which is insane! I used to torture my wife by proclaiming every piece of glass art, no matter what the origin as being Chihuly! We'd be at TJ Maxx or something and I'd pick up some Murano glass bowl and proclaim - "Hey look Regina...this is a Chihuly!"

I live in Seattle and have never heard of this guy. If he was so well known you'd think that every swanky hotel in town would have big piles of his stuff and there would be galleries on every other block selling it (and stuff that looks like it) and there might actually be a whole museum dedicated to his wonder.

There is a gigantic indoor garden center / greenhouse in Chicago where they hosted a Chihuly exhibition a few yers ago. It was interesting to see all of his glassworks poking out from among the foliage like some sort of giant alien insects. Some sort of weird Venusian man-eating plants.

I think of him more as a master craftsman than an fine artist; while the technical achievement present in his work is astonishing, I don't think there's enough emotional resonance or inner expressiom present in the work to qualify him as a fine artist. Also, as Humu said, he has a team buliding them for him. But this is all semantics now.

The same cultural garden center that hosted his exhibition also hosts weddings and black tie social events. Some moron left the paths among the plants, tried to get up close to one of the Chihulys, and broke it (true). You'll know the one when you see it in the California exhibition, because it's the one with a superglue seam along the edge!

JT, that's the Garfield Park Conservatory. Chilhuly lent the park several pieces back in 2001-2002 to help raise money for the renovation of the conservatory, which was very successful. The Chicago Parks Department was trying to buy the "Persian Pool" piece back in 2002, I don't know if they were successful in the purchase, they only had $100,000 of the $300,000 asking price the last I saw.

Yep. right, Garfield Park. Name slipped my mind. I'm getting senile in my old age. And like Sven, I can never remember Sabu's real name either. Sorry, Tim.

He has some pieces in the casino at ATLANTIS in the Bahamas that were pretty incredible to see in person:

http://www.chihuly.com/installations/atlantis/

(Click on Temple of The Sun to see my fav)

He also did a one night only exhibit for the Arts Walk celebration in Olympia, WA, but I can only find this b&w photo:

http://www.theolympian.com/home/specialsections/ArtsWalk/20020420/10002.shtml

It was nice to drive only a couple of miles to see a Chihuly exhibit though!

I love his work!
I was going to start buying up some of his sea forms stuff a few years ago: but purchased my condo instead.

I am absolutely in love with his art - or his team's art. I'm sure there are other glass artists out there that do more "artistic" and detailed things with glass. But I must confess, his work seems so organic and that's the quality that I am drawn to. The photos I've seen and the installations I've seen inperson seem to be so natural looking--almost like they were living creatures plucked from the sea or something. For me, it is the nonsymetrical nature, the organic look of the final pieces.

acknowledging his great work, but no-one has mentioned yet that he would make a great pirate :)

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar on 2005-01-11 11:13 ]

I'm another Dale Chihuly fan. My favorites are the macchias:
http://www.chihuly.com/essays/hobbs_1986.html

My plan is to find a piece in a thrift shop. So far my Chihuly collection consists only of a copy of his "Alla Macchia" book---which he autographed for me after a museum lecture.

He might end up being a fashion role model for me. I keep wishing I had chartreuse pants, a cobalt blue shirt, and paint-splattered shoes. I do already have the fluffy-curly hair.

Count me a fan of his work too, although it's a bit out of my range.

ok, a LOT

There was an exhibit here in Houston a year or two ago and I positively drooled. Didn't buy one, though.

But if I had a coupla thou sitting around and nothing to spend 'em on, I'd want a Chihuly.

Except I could never bring myself to spend that much money on one. Or on anything pretty but unnecessary. Except antiques that I know I could one day resell for a handsome profit. Except I'd feel like I needed to keep them in the family.

............Can you tell I'm torn?

On 2005-01-10 10:28, woofmutt wrote:
I live in Seattle and have never heard of this guy. If he was so well known you'd think that every swanky hotel in town would have big piles of his stuff and there would be galleries on every other block selling it (and stuff that looks like it) and there might actually be a whole museum dedicated to his wonder.

Hey Woofmutt,
Don't get out much do you? Anyone in the gallery world knows who Dale Chihuly is whether or not they enjoy his work. Incidentally, for you other TC'ers, I believe what you call his flowers are known by him as Seaforms.

We are having a SHAG show at our gallery in a couple of Saturdays (Jan. 29th, 2005). Don't suppose you have ever heard of Shag (Josh Agle) either. Therefore, he must not be a popular artist either. Freedom of speech can be a way for people to express their ignorance from time to time.

No harm mean't, however, you may want to do just the smallest bit of research before making such statements Woofmut. Incidentally, I like his work, however, I do enjoy many other glass artists more like Humuhumu. He does have a kickass swimming pool in his home with many of his glass images below the water and is a very nice guy.

There's a big, secret Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, just waiting for someone to notice that it's there. :)

In Woofmutt's defense, I can understand how one might not hear of a specific artist, and I don't think that's ignorant. My first thought is that it's someone who probably works a lot of hours, and doesn't have the luxury of swanning about museums and art galleries because they're working 10-12 hour days, possibly 7 days a week. I used to have that schedule, and it's no fun.

Yesterday I discovered that there's an American Society of Toothpick Holder Collectors, so I guess what's considered popular just depends on individual interests. Holy Tooth-Pickin', Batman!

Akshully, maybe I'm just an idjut, but I read woofmutt's post as pure sarcasm... Chihuly is pretty damned impossible to miss in the Seattle area.

woof

[ Edited by: exoticat on 2005-01-29 01:54 ]

being a glass artist, Chihuly is definetly an influence. he is to glass what frank lloyd wright is to architecture. The innovations in his glasswork is simply amazing. my favorite pieces are the fused weaves.
-john
http://www.creativeglassworksaz.com

Thats a great photo with good detail! Awesome!