Stunning glasswork by modern master Dale Chihuly

April 26, 2003 10:56 AM

Mille Fiori by Chihuly - a sweeping glassworks art installation marks the opening of the new Tacoma museum building. Dale Chihuly, one of the great masters of our time, also has an exhibit in Hamilton, NJ through July. Not content with stunning windows, walls and chandeliers, Chihuly creates towers, gardens, ceilings, and more, often weaving his work within natural elements to create fantasy waterscapes and landscapes. - more -
posted by madamjujujive (12 comments total)

Schedule of other Chihuly exhibits
Video clips of exhibits, glassmaking and exhibit installation
Essays and reviews about the artist and his work
posted by madamjujujive at 10:59 AM on April 26, 2003

Personally, I think his genius is more evident in marketing than in the art that he does not create himself. One should realize that Mr. Chihuly has a team of artisans that actually do all the work. He "supervizes" the creation and installation of each piece, theoretically.
posted by Shike at 11:38 AM on April 26, 2003

Furthermore, Chihuly has no depth perception -- he only has one eye -- which is an interesting flaw for a sculptor to have.
posted by blueshammer at 11:39 AM on April 26, 2003

Crimony! I like his stuff, but he's becoming as ubiquitous and over-exposed as Damien Hirst or Dali. When does he get his own line of glassware at Nordstrom's?
posted by MrBaliHai at 11:45 AM on April 26, 2003

I like it! And I'd never heard of him before either (not being American n'all - I don't think he's well known beyond those shores).
Madamjujujive - you're my guide to real Americana ;). I like this.
(A one-eyed sculptor is an interesting thing, yes. A whole new perspective ;) ).
posted by plep at 12:08 PM on April 26, 2003

Many of the great classical artists -- Michealanglo, etc -- also had teams of underlings doing much of their painting under their watchful eye. That doesn't take away from the genius of the artist.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:40 PM on April 26, 2003

I find it quite fascinating how society’s notion of an artist has changed over the years. The idea of the “tortured” artist working alone only for himself is a relatively new concept. Traditionally “great” artists did just what Chihuly does now; spending much of his time marketing himself and overseeing a workshop of artisans completing his commissions for him.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 12:41 PM on April 26, 2003

Love the photos, and some of his stuff is really quite cool. I like the lap pool a lot. Those self-quotations on his website, however, have to go. As bad as those "Deep Thoughts" from Kenneth Cole.

As always Madamjujujive, your tireless image-ferreting is an inspiration.
posted by BT at 2:16 PM on April 26, 2003

I saw a PBS special a few years ago on the making of his installation in Venice. It is fascinating to watch these guys work. Keep an eye out for the PBS show, it is replayed occasionally.
posted by Quinn at 3:48 PM on April 26, 2003

Chihuly's always been one of my favorites, and I've been wanting to see his stuff in person for ages. Thanks to this post, I'll get to do just that soon (and less than an hour away from home)...

Thanks again, madamejujujive!
posted by MsVader at 6:54 AM on April 28, 2003

If you're going to criticize Chihuly for working with a team, you're going to have to give back all those Warhols you've been admiring.

Chihuly's talent lies in the construction and placement of his work more than his skill as a glass artist -- taken individually, the individual elements of his composite sculptures are pretty run-of-the mill glasswork, doable by just about anyone working in the field today. What makes him unique is the ability to take these simple elements and combine them into a complex and beautiful new work.
posted by me3dia at 10:04 AM on April 28, 2003

The museum where I work has a gigantic Chihuly hanging from the ceiling in the main atrium.... It's great to walk underneath this huge glass sunburst (think molten glass explosion frozen in mid-expansion) on my way in every morning. Except that I always start thinking about how much it would hurt if the thing fell on me.
posted by COBRA! at 12:46 PM on April 28, 2003