Chihuly Illuminated

Last weekend I went to see Chihuly Illuminated, (on view September 25, 2009 – July 4, 2010 at the Columbus Museum of Art - with free admission on Sundays!). The exhibit showcases six large-scale installations never before seen in Columbus, as well as paintings and woven baskets by the artist.


*from the Columbus Museum website:
Chihuly Illuminated is part of Chihuly in Columbus, a city-wide celebration of the art of Dale Chihuly anchored by two major exhibitions at Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Museum of Art. For more information, visit www.chihulyincolumbus.com. Events included on this community calendar reflect the variety and vibrancy of culture and glass in Columbus.

Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly was introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1965, Chihuly enrolled in the first glass program in the country, at the University of Wisconsin. He continued his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later established the glass program and taught for over a decade.

In 1968, Chihuly was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to work at the Venini factory in Venice, Italy. While in Venice, Chihuly observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today. In 1971, Chihuly cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington. With this international glass center, Chihuly has led the avant-garde in the development of glass as a fine art. His work is included in over two hundred museum collections worldwide. He has been the recipient of many awards, including eight honorary doctorates and two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.