Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculpture and entrepreneur
whose work is permanently displayed in 32 states and 6 countries around the
world. Due to the massive size of his
work, it wasn’t surprising to learn that he does all the creating and designing
while his team of craftsman help blow the pieces for the installations. The
piece that I was blessed to see is placed in the infamous Bellagio hotel lobby in
Las Vegas, NV. Titled Fiori di Como, this chandelier is comprised of 2000 individual glass blown flowers that are placed together in the ceilings coffer to span the entire lobby area. The pieces total size is 2000 sqft., and having the ability to stand below it and gaze at the flowers was breathtaking, to say the least.
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Fiori di Como, 1998
Blown Glass
Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
2000 sqft |
The creation of this piece is from the individual twisting and pulling, curling and fusing of dollop of glass, morphed from the heat of the blasting furnaces in Chihuly’s studio. The translucent, rich, free-form or geometric shapes along with the vast array of colors blast the senses, mimicking flowers gently swaying in a warm summer breeze. Each flower is a one of a kind representation, yet once placed together they seem to flow from one form to the other. There is a sense of fragility, yet your mind is amazed at the strength of the piece. The vibrant colors are impactful, as it shines and glistens to all that view it below. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the color placement with a mixture of deep dark pieces, light pieces, and a splash of white mixed in, giving the viewer the desire to follow each color into the next ~ from one end of the piece to the other. The installation has a strong emphasis of individuality, yet collective ~ the placement of each flower when overlaid with another can morph the colors into something more elusive. It’s a sight to see, and something I’d advise anyone to witness for themselves.
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Fiori di Como, 1998 (close-up)
Blown Glass
Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
2000 sqft |
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Fiori di Como, 1998
Blown Glass
Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
2000 sqft
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