I had never heard of Dale Chihuly until we visited Seattle and the Chihuly Museum last month. Just steps from the base of the Space Needle, I was delighted to see the artist's early influences—neon art, Native American Northwest Coast trade baskets, and Pendleton blankets, to name a few—to the vibrant chandelier towers and architectural glass installations he is most known for today. There are eight galleries total, plus a 40-foot-tall "Glasshouse," and an outdoor garden that serves as a backdrop for colorful installations that integrate with a dynamic Northwest landscape, including native plants and a 500-year-old western cedar that washed up on the shores of Neah Bay. Chihuly, who was born and raised in Tacoma, was actively involved in the design of the exhibition as well as the whimsical Collections Cafe, where you'll find Chihuly's quirky personal collections on display—everything from tin toys to vintage cameras to antique shaving brushes. As someone who is enthralled by colors and textures, the visit to this exhibit ended up being one of the highlights from the trip.
Highlights
- Collections Café: You can, of course, get something to eat here. The restaurant serves locally sourced food plus regional beers and wines. However, the space also offers a visual treat. It is decorated with everyday objects in which Dale Chihuly found beauty and collected over the years. 36 of the artist’s drawings also take up one of the café’s walls.
- Exhibition Hall: The hall contains eight galleries and two walls of drawings. Highlights include the Sealife Room, a bright undersea tableau, and the Persian Ceiling, with a parade of colorful glass blossoms visible above you. You will also find the theater, the bookstore, and the Collections Café in the Exhibition Hall.
- Gardens: Flowers, trees, and other plants surround works in glass throughout the Garden. You will certainly notice the Pacific Sun installation, 16 feet in diameter, on a bed of natural black mondo grass. Take note as well of the Mexican Hat Tower and Niijima Floats.
- Glasshouse: Chihuly took inspiration for the exhibition’s centerpiece building from conservatories, as well as London’s Crystal Palace and Paris’s Sainte-Chapelle. Inside is suspended one of Chihuly’s largest airborne works, a red, orange, yellow, and amber creation that measures more than 100 feet in length.
You can check out the ticket prices and play you trip by visiting their website here.
