Visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle
Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 4:40PM I first saw Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures at the Desert Botanical Garden near Phoenix some years ago. Later I saw some of his pieces closer to home at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. These displays were only a tease to entice me to see the largest collection of Dale Chihuly work on public view, Chihuly Garden and Glass, a museum next to the Space Needle in Seattle.
Dale Chihuly, born in Tacoma, Washington in 1941, is an internationally acclaimed artist who is best known for his fantastical glass works. Last month I traveled to Oregon to spend some time with my two sons who live on the west coast, and the three of us drove up to Seattle. The Chihuly exhibits were the highlight of our visit. Here are a few images to entice you, too, if you haven't already, to visit this wonderful museum. Most of these photos were taken outside in the Glass Garden, where it was sometimes hard to distinguish living plants from the glass ones:
Here is a view inside the Glass House, which can be rented for weddings and other special occasions:
Perhaps the most stunning displays are inside the museum. I will post this one additional image, and I hope you get to experience this amazing place for yourself!
Reader Comments (16)
Wow, these are amazing! I love the way they're so artfully interspersed throughout the garden with the plants!
Glass exhibits are showing up in one botanic garden after another now but, in my view, none match the creativity and majesty of the Chihuly exhibitions. I hope to see the Seattle garden one day. I adore the display of flowers under that massive glass roof!
I was glad to hear that Hurricane Nate didn't cause you much trouble either. I hope those cool fall days you're wishing for arrive soon. Meanwhile our heat continues to turn off and on like some faulty appliance.
Wow! What an amazing artist. When I think about the process of blowing glass, it makes his work even more fantastic. His colors are so vivid and, you're right, about them looking realistic. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! The ones that looked like other-worldlyl plants are so cool! I've seen the ceiling he did for the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and it is stunning. What an awesome place to visit.
One of the many wonderful things about reading blogs is discovering something entirely new. I did not know this artist's work before seeing this post. What a talent! Thank you for enlightening me and giving me a glimpse of his exceptional work.
I saw some of these at the Phoenix botanic garden a few years ago. I loved them; thanks for sharing your visit to his garden. I hope you had an enjoyable time with your sons.
These are really great Deb, have a great day.
Wow, what an incredible artist and wonderful artwork!
Love the sculpture of glass flowers in the second to last picture. What a fun garden visit! Hope to get there some day.
Sounds like a spot for my bucket list! Our own Franklin Park Conservatory has some lovely pieces of his on permanent display.
My favorite is the fifth one -- looks like plants or cobras.
I live so close to that garden but haven't been there yet! I love the blue pieces especially.
Beautiful pictures, Deb! Thank you!
Unusual and magical, I love sculpture in a garden setting. Can't even identify a favourite, they all are wonderful. Thank you so much for this post, Deb.
Amazing! I wonder how they maintain the garden without breaking the sculptures. They must have careful gentle gardeners.
Hi, Debbie. This is my first time on your blog since you told me about it in water exercise class. Wow! So impressive! I LOVE Chihuly and your pictures of this spectacular garden. I will go the next time I'm in Seattle. I have a gardening friend who moved there. I will direct her to your blog. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing those amazing photos.
Years ago, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables FL displayed his work among the gardens . A truly inspiring experience.
Thanks again.