Fans of glass artist Dale Chihuly will not want to miss a fabulous exhibit of his sculptures at the Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York Street). The show runs from June 14 through November 30, 2014, during the gardens’ busy season. This will be the first outdoor show of Chihuly’s work in the Rocky Mountain region.
Chihuly, 72, is among the best-known American artists working today and his glass creations are in more than 200 museum collections around the world. He has received numerous awards, including 12 honorary doctorates and two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1968, he went to Venice to work at the Venini glass factory where he learned the team approach to blowing glass, which is how he works today.
This show was curated specifically for the Denver Botanic Gardens. Informed by nature, each installation responds to surrounding plants, flowers and architecture. Chihuly’s elegant sculptures – ranging in size and style from small water floats to a 30-foot tower – will add bold colors and dramatic beauty to the Gardens’ 24-acre urban oasis. Chihuly’s design team visited the gardens in order to tailor each piece to the urban oasis landscape. Viewing will be after dark as well as during the day.
Chihuly himself will be at the Denver Botanic Gardens on opening day of the exhibition, with a talk scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by a book-signing.