Many years ago while I was sitting in the dentist's office waiting for my kids to get their checkups, I started to read
Chihuly Baskets that was on the table in the waiting area. I was immediately fascinated with how
Dale Chihuly could take the connection that he felt from seeing Indian Baskets at the
Washington State History Museum and turn them into his version of glass baskets. When my kids were done getting their teeth cleaned they always got to pick a treat from a treasure chest and this would take forever because they never could decide what to pick. I didn't mind at all that day, because it gave me time to have the receptionist make copies of the story about how
Chihuly first saw the baskets and more information about the Indians who made the original baskets, plus more time to study the photos of the amazing glass baskets. I have kept the copies of this story in a photo album that I keep with photos of all of the baskets that I have made. I have read it several times over the years and continue to be inspired by
Chihuly's work. I keep trying to figure out how I can make a basket that looks like glass!
About a year after first discovering this book, my husband got to go to Chihuly's hot shop in Seattle through work and meet
Dale Chihuly and watch the artist and many glass blowers in action...I was very jealous! Since that time the
Museum of Glass has opened in Tacoma, Washington and we have been fortunate to visit there a handful of times. This year, The Easter Bunny (this is the way I justify the purchase, plus the book is a beautiful robin's egg blue which is perfect for Easter) arrived early and brought me my very own copy of
Chihuly Baskets along with a
mini version of the book (includes a great cd showing the artists at work...all available at
Portland Press). I am not getting much done lately, because I can't get my head out of this beautiful and very inspiring book!
His work is so beautiful. I have been to the Tacoma Museum of Glass (I think it was with Jason's Lighthouse class) Mr. Chihuly wasn't there but other glass blowers were. We got to watch and then the kids got to do a little bit. It was very cool.
ReplyDeleteChihuly is a master and we are lucky to have such an artist in the NW! After seeing it done in Vince, Italy I know I will never be able to create such works of glass art because it takes such strength and precision. It is so beautiful! I am thinking I will just have to buy some someday.
ReplyDeleteSave your pennies Jbean :) and buy one for you nice neighbor too!
ReplyDeleteAh, I love that book and gifted myself a copy following the History Museum show last year with his blanket collection and glass baskets. If anyone is able to reverse the process and make baskets look like glass, it will be you. I attended the docent training for Chilhuly's ice sculptures years ago with a friend. He was the docent. Fifty or so of us were listening to Chilhuly describe the what's , why's and how's of the exhibit. When done he asked for questions. At some point my hand shot up. I asked my question and he asked me to repeat it but louder. "Do you dream in color?", I said again. "Of course", he said. Where do you think the ideas come from?" I'm guessing they come from that ever churning rich imagination of his. 24-7.
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