As promised, here's what we saw last week when we drove the 460 km round-trip to Groningen, NL, to see Chihuly's glass exhibition, closing on 5 May. It was proclaimed to be his biggest exhibition in Europe in the last 20 years.
First, meet Dale Chihuly, the world's most acclaimed glass blower, born in 1941.
An automobile accident in England in 1976 left him without sight in his left eye,
256 stitches in his face, and permanent damage to his right ankle and foot,
none of which seems to stop him.
none of which seems to stop him.
It was a rainy day but we still managed pics of the museum.
As you know, nothing rains on our parade.
The first exhibit at ground-floor entrance was his Niijima Floats from 1991.
Because these 6-foot spheres are so large, Chihuly says they're his most difficult series.
Spheres like this are "not natural at this scale."
From ground floor we passed a huge expanse of Flower Plates up the staircase.
It's a 100% handmade Murano glass Flower Plates art wall!
See the people for scale.
See the people for scale.
I should have paid attention to what series were presented in the different rooms.
I believe this is his Venetians series, from 1988 and 1990.
The Cylinders series picks up Chihuly's fascination with Native American textiles since 1975.
The juxtaposition against the blankets was stunning!
You can easily say this was Astrid's and my favorite section...
...including also the Northwest Coast Basket series by Indians he had seen as a child.
The displays were breath-taking.
If you want to see Chihuly himself talking about the blankets, this video is long but fascinating.
These, too, are part of the Baskets series.
Then, of course, there's the flamboyant, spectacular Chihuly,
as seen in his Mille Fiori exhibit, Italian for a "thousand flowers."
as seen in his Mille Fiori exhibit, Italian for a "thousand flowers."
He says he fashioned this after his mother's garden.
I especially liked what I saw as hands and fingers.
And how's that for the centerpiece of the garden!
In a side room were these Sapphire Neon Tumbleweeds from his City of Glass.
And then there were more of the...Seaforms?
These reminded me of balloon sculptures but from what series?
Now, walk up one more floor...
...to Chihuly's Float and Fiori Boats.
Can you guess which is which, based on what you've seen thus far?
Last but not least, in a side room next to the boats...spiky things!
I'm sure they, too, have a name/series.
Those of you who have seen Chihuly's work with your own eyes know why
seeing this exhibition was a must for us.
We're still pinching ourselves.
Those of you who have seen Chihuly's work with your own eyes know why
seeing this exhibition was a must for us.
We're still pinching ourselves.
