Memories Made (part 6a)

 When you think of blown glass and glass sculptures you immeditely think of Murano, Italy.

At least, I do.

Having lived in Italy before the rinderpest and then revisiting the area several years ago,specifically Murano, the association is automatic. Beacuse after all the Murano Islands are world famous for this glass art. Venetian glassmaking in factories existed as far back as the 8th Century.

But Murano is not the only place where one can see these beauties. A world renowned American artist from Tacoma Washington has his work exhibitied in Seattle.

His name: Dale Chihuly 

The venue: Chihuly Garden and Glass 

 "Chihuly studied interior design at the University of Washington in Seattle  and received an M.S. in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied glassblowing under Harvey Littleton. In 1968 he received an M.F.A. in ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design. That same year he traveled to Italy on a Fulbright scholarship and a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation grant and worked at Venini Fabrica, the renowned glassblowing workshop in Murano. 

Returning to the United States in 1969, he established the RISD glassblowing program and founded (1971) the influential Pilchuck Glass School north of Seattle. There he created the first of a number of environmental installations—a group of clear glass bulbs floating on Pilchuck Pond. He continued to teach at RISD until 1980.

In 1976 an automobile accident left Chihuly blind in one eye, and thereafter he was dependent on assistant gaffers (glassblowers) to execute his distinctive designs."

"In 1996 he completed Chihuly over Venice, a collaborative international undertaking involving glassblowers from Finland, Ireland, and Mexico. That project included Chandeliers (an enduring theme), which were installed around the city and lit by natural light, and numerous other glass forms that were released to float freely along the Venetian canals."

 "Chihuly’s technical innovations enabled the production of a tremendous range of patterns, colours, and textures. Among his several extended series were Blankets, for which he used cylindrical forms covered with patterns derived from Native American blankets;

Seaforms, shapes evoking sea urchins, shells, and other marine life;

"Chandeliers, large-scale hanging sculptures illuminated by natural light sources.Variations in scale made it possible for onlookers to experience his pieces as intimate personal objects or to be completely immersed in them."

"In 1986 Chihuly began his Persian series while experimenting with new forms. Originally, he displayed Persians in pedestal compositions, often smaller shapes nested in larger pieces. Later, working with an architectural framework, he mounted larger forms to walls and suspended them as overhead compositions. The first Persian Ceiling was presented in his 1992 exhibition openingthe new downtown Seattle Art Museum. Lit from above and resting on a flat glass pane, the elements of the Persian Ceiling come together to provide an immersive experience in color and shape."

You can watch how Chihuly creates these pieces of art in this video.

 There is no doubt that this exhibit is a must see for anyone who appreciates the art of glass blowing.  

It is a feast for the eyes! 

In addition, since a Chihuly piece can cost an exhuberant amount of money, owning photographs of some of his work is the next best thing.  🤪

This last photo is not a Chihuly. 😉😎

But rather the exit to the indoor exhibition and the entrance to the garden exhibit, which is the next stop of this tour.

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