Dale Chihuly's Sculptures at New York Botanical Garden

Wednesday, 05 July 2006 11:40

New York City - Set to inspire and thrill are more than 30 installations, featuring thousands of individual, hand-blown glass sculptures.  Pieces tucked in among the plants beg the question, "Were they made by man or by nature?" Enormous, complex sculptures hang dramatically from ceilings and rise up from reflecting pools.

Among the monumental works are the 20-foot-tall Rose Crystal Tower, 30-foot Palm Dome Tower, Persian Chandelier, and the spectacular installation The Sun.  At 4,600 pounds, The Sun is 14 feet high by 14 feet wide and comprises more than 1,000 pieces of glass in brilliant yellow, red, and blue.

Some of Chihuly's other well-known series on display include:

Ikebana: Named after a traditional Japanese art of flower arranging Macchia: Began with Chihuly's "waking up one day wanting to use all 300 of the colors in the hotshop"; named after the Italian word for "spotted" Niijima Floats: Reminded Chihuly of the fishing floats he used to find as a boy in the Pacific Northwest; named after an island in Japan Walla Wallas: Pieces with pointed tips that resemble their namesake, the famous sweet onions of eastern Washington State Herons: Named for their similarity to the shore birds of Finland, where this series originated Dale Chihuly's intricately formed glass shapes are set against this dazzling array of plants.  In select areas such as the Everett Children's Adventure Garden and Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, outdoor installations both complement and contrast with the natural landscape.

Visit The New York Botanical Garden at : http://www.nybg.org/