Dale Chihuly is a glass sculptor from Tacoma, Washington.
I’ll admit, I’m far from an expert on glass sculpting and what these artists are capable of.. but what Dale Chihuly magically creates with glass is really something astonishing..
I am going to share with you a number of pieces from Chihuly’s 2006 exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens. Though there are a number of newer and current installations worth checking out.
What I found most interesting in my research, was the knowledge that Chihuly no longer actually works on the glass himself. After being in a head on collision and losing an eye and dislocating his shoulder in a bodysurfing accident, Chihuly was no longer physically able of creating the likes of the following masterpieces. Instead of finishing his career there, he hired others to do the work.
“Once I stepped back, I liked the view” Chihuly describes his role as “more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor.”
Needless to say, Chihuly’s grasp of the glass and its limitations is amazing. His sculptures can be so fluid, full of movement and energy, but he also has the knowledge to make the material more mellow and somber.
Chihuly has dozens of installations and examples of his talent along with some great videos of the process at his website
