Expect the unexpected in the unlikeliest of places: The works of celebrated artist Dale Chihuly are now on display at the Missouri Botanical Garden in what is being called the Garden’s most ambitious exhibition to date.
“Chihuly in the Garden 2023” features 20 breathtaking blown-glass installations throughout the Garden, uniting art and nature, inspired the artist’s lifelong interest in architecture and gardens.
Chihuly, considered as one of the most important artists of the 21st century, is world-renowned for transforming glass into multidimensional works of art, experimenting with color, light, transparency and form.
“A lot of the reason Dale started putting work in nature was more personal, frankly; his mother was an avid gardener,” said Chihuly Studio spokeswoman Danielle Zarrella. “He was raised by his mother, Viola, and she did great things in the garden. So, he spent a lot of time in nature with her, a lot of time in conservatories and fell in love with conservatories. He has a background in architecture, so that played with the conservatories and wanting to work in those spaces.”
The exhibit is the second time for Chihuly at Missouri Botanical Garden. The first exhibition in 2006 was on a much smaller scale.
“Chihuly normally doesn’t always return to locations but so much has changed in the years since, so it was a great opportunity to come back with completely different artwork,” Zarrella said.
Like most of the artist’s exhibitions, “Chihuly in the Garden 2023” is a site-specific installation featuring thousands of pieces of blown glass in works showcased throughout the grounds.
The cheery “Vivid Lime Icicle Tower” greets visitors at the entrance, while the “Macchia Forest” and “Ethereal Spring Persians” in the Climatron channel gigantic blooms in the tropics. “Summer Sun” is a stunning burst of color set among the daylilies. In the Japanese Garden, “Red Reeds” provides a dramatic statement against the dry raked gravel; and on the water, “Float Boat and Niijima Floats” invoke serenity.
“Look forward to surprise and beauty,” Zarrella said. “Around every other corner, you’re going to see something you didn’t expect that wasn’t there the last time you visited. One of the real joys of the way Dale places his work in nature is that it could be very complementary and subtle, or you might be just absolutely blown away by something that brings a whole new feel to the environment.”
Daytime viewing for “Chihuly in the Garden 2023” runs May 2 through Oct. 15. “Chihuly Nights,” which gives visitors the opportunity to view the installations illuminated at nighttime, will be offered Thursdays through Sundays, May 13 through Aug. 27.
The exhibition is free with Garden admission ($14 general admission, $6 for St. Louis residents, free for members); “Chihuly Nights” ticket prices range from $8 to $25. For tickets and additional information, visit missouribotanicalgarden.org.
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