February 2005 Chiluhy's Glass Sculpture: Photos by Sangi Patel
Following our walk for the second Sunday of February, we made our way to Pepperdine University to view the exhibition of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. We were joined here by Keka. After a refreshing lunch at the student cafetaria of the University and an enjoyment of some of the spectacular views this campus affords, we went to the University's Art Museum.
Dale Chihuly is among the most famous of contemporary sculptors, who has transformed the medium of glass into a major art form. The Chihuly exhibition was truly extraordinary and will be showing at this gallery until March 30. The exhibition showcases a number of series of Chihuly's works made by him through the years. Once more Sangi took the photographs. Here are some of the sculptures:
1) Baskets: Begun in 1977, 'Baskets' are one of Chihuly's earliest mature series of blown glass.
2) Macchia: These 1981 pieces employ a method of using layers of white to separate colors on the interior and exterior, leading to spots of vibrant color on the surface. The term 'Macchia' comes from the Italian for 'spotted'. Usually displayed in groups on individual pedestals, Chihuly likes to think of these assemblages as Macchia Forests.
3) Persians: Since glass was first made in the Ancient Near East, Chihuly named this series, on which he first began work in 1986, as 'Persians'. There is an archeological or underwater quality to these brightly colored unusually shaped objects.
Persian Set 1 -
Persian Set 2 -
5) Ikebana: Made after a visit to Japan, these pieces evoke long-stemmed flowers and leaves.
6) Chandeliers: Chihuly's famous chandeliers hang in a large number of galleries, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They are made by affixing glass elements to a hanging metal frame.
7) Towers: The reverse of a chandelier, Chihuly's towers are made from hundreds of pieces of glass attached to a steel armature and made to stand on the ground. The pieces appear to defy gravity and have an airy quality as of undersea foliage floating upwards.
8) Reeds: Chihuly's 'Reeds' resemble glowing stalactites and stalagmites, rising from the earth. He prefers to arrange them in installations using local logs.
