Chihuly and Phipps

Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was absolutely beautiful in September 2007. Phipps is one of the United States' oldest and largest Victorian greenhouses. Coupled with Dale Chihuly's blown-glass exhibit, Phipps' distinctive botanical garders were a site to behold!

Dale Chihuly revolutionized the Studio Glass movement by expanding its original premise of a solitary artist working in a studio to collaborative teams. These teams, comprised of many talented artisans, led to the development of complex, vibrantly colored, multipart dramatic sculptures. He moved blown glass out of the confines of the small, precious object into the realm of huge contemporary sculpture and room-sized installations of organic, freestanding, plantlike imagery. He achieved patterns by fusing into the surface of his vessels "drawings" composed of prearranged glass threads. He then had his forms blown in optic molds, which created ribbed motifs. Breathtaking!

Chihuly's work is autobiographical, imprinted with his enchantment with abstracted flower forms. Remindful of his mother's Tacoma garden and marked by his love of the sea and his recognition of its importance to the Pacific Northwest's economy, his unique visions are profoundly insightful. They penetrate the soul in their beauty.

Earlier installations allude to natural phenomena such as icicles and vegetation, while Phipps' garden oases provided the perfect backdrop for Chihuly's exhibit. These plush gardens enabled him to juxtapose monumental, organically shaped sculptural forms with beautiful green vistas, establishing a direct and immediate interaction between God's nature, light, and art.

A prevailing presence in the art world, Dale Chihuly and his work provoke controversy between the art and craft debate. With projects such as his garden installations in Kew, New York, and Pittsburgh little doubt remains that his lasting contribution to art of my time is an established fact. Exuberant in spirit and ambitious in scope, these large-scale glass sculptures are housed in museums, concert halls, corporate offices, public spaces, and private residences around the world.

Enjoying them first-hand at Phipps was spectacular! The memory is embedded in my heart. God's gifting of this extraordinary talent to Dale Chihuly and His supplying such powerful beauty in nature was truly incredible to behold!