Colorado Springs‘ Fine Arts Center had long been on my “must see“ list, and when it offered free visitation in March, I finally filled this glaring gap in my education. I wanted to explore at least two exhibits, one permanent, the other temporary, but otherwise had no preconceived notions. Incidentally, the museum will celebrate its centenary throughout this year, having originated as the Broadmoor Arts Academy in 1919.
Immediately upon entering the lobby, my attention was riveted by the Medusa-like light fixture featured above, but the title Chihuly Chandelier didn’t mean anything to me. Later, when I strolled into a darkened gallery highlighted and illuminated by an array of additional glass art, I learned about world-renowned (where have I been?) American glass artist, Dale Chihuly (born 1941), whose designs have dazzled viewers everywhere. They certainly dazzled me, and I became an instant fan. Additional research revealed that a 1976 accident resulted in blindness in the artist’s left eye. The associated loss of depth perception and a subsequent shoulder dislocation both affected his ability to blow glass, and forced him to limit himself to designing, rather than fashioning his art. According to a quote on Wikipedia, Chihuly describes his role as “more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor.”
The Persian Wall Installation was arranged by the artist in 2006 and emulates some of the oldest surviving ancient glasswork from the Persian Empire of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Concentric circles in contrasting colors captivate and charm.
Macchias are glass bowls characterized by spots (macchia is Italian for spot, from Latin macula). Countless color combinations make each one of these calyx-like structures unique, and assorted varieties resting on pedestals form so-called macchia forests.
The focal point of the room was the Orange Hornet Chandelier, composed of 384 pieces, which add up to a weight of 1200 pounds. In addition to hornets, it reminded me of ristras (from Latin restis, for rope or cord), decorative strings of red chili peppers popular in the American Southwest. The ponderous taper, first installed in Venice in 1993 as a smaller incarnation, had additional elements added specifically for the Fine Arts Center, to commemorate its 2007 reopening after a major expansion.
For the same occasion, the museum’s café was adorned with a third luster, the Gilded Blue Sapphire Chandelier, a cerulean dream with golden touches.
My outing reminded me that chance meetings are often the best. Encountering Chihuly’s creations was a wonderful surprise, and in this instance my ignorance was indeed my bliss.
Absolutely gorgeous! I agree on the point of chance discoveries often being the highlights.
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All of us have made unexpected discoveries like this, and derived great pleasure from it. I am glad you, too, liked Chihuly’s art.
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Diese Kreationen beeindrucken mich sehr! Der Vergleich mit Medusen ist passend und überhaupt erinnern mich die Formen und die Oberfläche an Muscheln und Schnecken. Wirklich irre, was der Künstler da gezaubert hat!! LG Simone
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Genauso erging es mir, liebe Simone. Seine Kunst hat wirklich was. Es freut mich, daß der Funke übergesprungen ist.
Herzliche Grüße,
Tanja
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Nun war ich natürlich gleich noch auf der Website von Chihuly. 😊 Wow wow wow!!!
Lieben Dank, Tanja, dass Du in Deinem Post von dieser Ausstellung berichtet hast!
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I wouldn’t want to be responsible for dusting any of those chandeliers! Very clever but not my taste, those macchia though are gorgeous.
(like the new header shot!)
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I had not thought about that poor person responsible for keeping everything clean and shiny. A job with some responsibility. 😊
Thank you for noticing and liking my new header!
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Sehr beeindruckend = very impressive
Ich musste auch gleich an das Haupt der Medusa denken – ein toller Leuchter!
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Ich glaube, Glaskunst hat mir schon immer gefallen, wenn ich so zurückdenke. Die Leichtigkeit und Transparenz des Material kombiniert mir verschiedenen Formen und Farben spricht mich einfach an.
Schön, daß es Dir auch gefallen hat.
Liebe Grüße, auch an Steve!
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Ja, Glaskunst hat etwas faszinierendes.
Dankeschön Tanja, Grüsse von Steve und mir zurück 🙂
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Schöne künstlerische Arbeiten und in schönen Farben😃
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So habe ich das auch empfunden, liebe Andrea. Vielen Dank und liebe Grüße.
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It seems your German readers were mostly as unfamiliar with Chihuly as you had been. Now all of you are excited by his work. In 2017 my wife and I took in a large sample of it at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art:
http://www.okcmoa.com/collection/dale-chihuly-glass/
A 55-feet-tall piece of his dominates the lobby. And speaking of museums, as soon as I saw your mention of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center I checked to see if that’s the place we visited in 2017, and from the pictures online I knew right away that it is. We paid but it wasn’t a lot. Glad you got in for free.
Your mention of macchiato and macula made me realize that macchiato is a doublet of [i.e. etymologically equivalent to] the adjective maculate.
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I am so glad to have finally made it to the Fine Arts Center and to have become acquainted with Chihuly, Steve. You were, of course, ahead of me with regard to both.
Oklahoma is not really on the way, but if I ever travel there and have some time to spare, I will visit the impressive collection your link took me to. That 55 foot installation in the lobby must be so impressive.
And I thank thee again for keeping up your Latin lessons. 😊
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And if you do get to Oklahoma, I’ll add that Tulsa has two good art museums, the Philbrook and the Gilcrease.
As for Latin, you were the one who brought it up this time.
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Duly noted, Steve.
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A wonderful art exhibition, Tanja. I fell in love with the first Chandelier you show us in your post.
Glass art is delicate and often glorious 😊
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That’s exactly what happened to me, Hanna. Thank you!
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Zauberhaft, Tanja.
Was für ein Künstler, ganz großartig.
Die Farben liebe ich und ich mag dein Header Foto sehr.
Liebe Grüße, Brigitte
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Es freut mich, daß er Dich auch anspricht, Brigitte. Manchmal ist es einfach erfrischend, mit neuen Farb- und Formkombination konfrontiert zu werden, die einen staunen lassen.
Das Header Foto gefällt mir auch sehr, aber wir wissen ja, was über Selbstlob gesagt wird. 😊
Herzlichen Dank, liebe Brigitte, und weiterhin eine schöne Woche.
Tanja
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Those are gorgeous! I hope they have those pieces insured! I’m so glad you made the happy discovery of those pieces – I love it when unexpected surprises happen!
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I really enjoyed this unexpected surprise, Callee. I am sure the museum has great security and insurance. 🙂
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Hi. I think I like the orange chandelier the best. It’s awfully intense. But there’s a lot to be said for all of his works. A very talented guy.
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It was VERY intense when I first saw it in the darkened exhibit, Neil, and it left quite the impression.
You might know this, but a quick internet search informed me that the National Liberty Museum in Philly has at least one of Chihuly’s creations on display, a 21 foot “Flame of Liberty.”
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Thanks. I didn’t know about that.
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Future post???!!! 🙂
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It might fit into one. I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
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Stunning! I was going to say they look like the exhibits at the Seattle Glasshouse, but then I realized both these places showcase works of the same artist! 😀
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Good for you for recognizing it, Nirmala. Now that I know about Chihuly’s style, I hope I would recognize it in a different setting, too. 🙂
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Oh, how wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Tanja! 🙂
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I am glad you liked them, Hang. Thank you for stopping by and for commenting.
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Wow these are amazing, Tanja. I love how vibrant the colors look on glasses. The orange chandelier is just brilliant! I could stare at it for hours. I think orange is such a warm and intense color, not easy to forget. All of the displays are beautiful! What a talented artist!
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I think most people are touched by this artist’s creations, Pooja. They make us stop in our tracks and take a second, and third look. I am glad you enjoyed some of his creations. I have since learned that they can be found in many locations. Who knows, maybe even in Poland?!
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Those are amazing glass works. But so is most of what Chihuly creates. Colourful and surprising.
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I seem to have been one of the few people not familiar with his art, Otto. I am glad that I am now! I agree with your assessment of his art entirely. Thank you for commenting.
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Amazing artwork display and beauty! Those chandeliers are spectacular, and wow quite heavy! 😲
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Probably too heavy (and pricey) for our living rooms! 🙂
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Hallo Tanja, seit ich in einer Chihuly-Ausstellung in Seattle war, bin ich ein Fan und der damals erworbene Kalender wird seitdem wegen der tollen Bilder immer weiter genutzt. Ich wünschte, ich könnte mal eben vorbei schauen und die Ausstellung in Colorado Springs sehen! Danke für die Bilder!
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Ich bin etwas erstaunt, daß es so lange gedauert hat, ihn für mich zu entdecken. Du warst mir um einige Jahre voraus, liebe Elke.
Wann immer Ihr uns besuchen werdet, wird ein Besuch im Fine Arts Center mit eingeplant! 😊
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These are amazing!!! I always wanted to be a glass blower. It has fascinated me since I was a kid.
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I have also been fascinated by glassblowers ever since I watched a demonstration, Diane. It’s a captivating process.
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Wonderful description of Chihuly. I saw an exhibit of his at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and have never forgotten it.😊
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It is easy to see why most of us have been touched by his art! Thank you for stopping by.
Best,
Tanja
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Wonderful!
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I am glad you share my enthusiasm. Thank you!
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