Dale Chihuly’s stunning glass artwork is perhaps familiar to many Columbusites. His exhibition at the Franklin Park Conservatory in 2003-04 drew a record number of visitors and created plenty of lasting intrigue. His vibrant pieces complemented the venue so well that the non-profit Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of them for permanent display among the plant collections.
Those that weren’t purchased, as well as three new extensive pieces, are back for the new exhibit, Chihuly Reimagined, which runs July 4-March 28, 2010 at the conservatory.
CityScene had the opportunity to talk with Chihuly’s project manager Tom Lind – who has worked with the world-renowned artist for 16 years – about the new pieces, the process behind an installation and the team’s much-anticipated return to Columbus.
CityScene: How did you meet Dale Chihuly and start working with him?
Tom Lind: I have been working on his exhibitions since 1992. At that time, Seattle (where Chihuly’s studio is located) was a fairly small community for artists and glass makers. I was basically just introduced to him through a mutual friend and he found out I had done some work in glass and sculpture and asked me to come on board.
CS: How many people are on the installation team for the FPC exhibit?
TL: We’re bringing seven people from the studio doing a variety of jobs – we have people who physically assemble the pieces with a range of skill sets and tools. We have people who do the light design, which is obviously a very important part of Chihuly’s exhibits. We have a good mix of people who have been working together for a long time.
CS: What are some of the highlights of this exhibit?
TL: What we’ve done is taken the entire existing collection from 2003 and added three new installations to the exhibition that will be on loan. One of them – the largest piece – is blue reeds. There was an old, white oak tree in front of the conservatory that was unsafe and had to be removed. We’re using logs from that tree as the platform for this particular installation.
The second will be a boat. We’re creating an environment in the Show House for that. It’s mostly purples and pinks and deep, rich colors. The third is an orange hornet chandelier and will hang in the Desert Zone.
CS: How does this differ from the 2003 exhibit?
TL: It will complement the existing collection at the conservatory. The whole intent behind this installation was to take the existing installations and shuffle the deck a bit, so we’re reimagining the installations throughout the venue. Some of the pieces that are permanent, that you’re used to seeing, will have a little bit of a different look to them. Dale is constantly revisiting older forms and ideas and putting a new twist or element to it, while also creating new work.
CS: What is the process behind picking a venue for an installation?
TL: It’s all very well thought out ahead of time. We’ve been working on this one, specifically, for about six months. (FPC) had some people come out (to Seattle) and we went over their wish list, took notes and brainstormed. Then I came to Columbus in January to refresh my memory of what was already there from the 2003 exhibit. We came up with a good reconfiguration of the work and how to make improvements to some areas.
CS: This exhibition is part of a larger Chihuly in Columbus event, with an exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art and the Hawk Galleries. How will these venues differ?
TL: We used to just focus on museum installations when I first started. This will only be our ninth or 10th installation in a conservatory or garden. But we’re planning the exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art and the Hawk Galleries show separately so people in Columbus and the area will be able to see things differently – in different environments at different locations. At the museum, we can control the look and feel of the rooms, which is different than the conservatory, where the rooms are pretty much set with its horticultural. The gallery will be designed more for the clientele and will include pieces on more of a residential scale.
CS: Why Columbus?
TL: I think it is a good focus point for us. Dale has had a great relationship with Franklin Park since the 2003 exhibit and there is a commitment to his work there. It’s a good fit and the conservatory is a gorgeous venue. We’re all welcoming the opportunity to be back.
Alicia Kelso is editor of CityScene.
Dale Chihuly has permanent collections all over the world. To get a glimpse of his work, visit www.chihuly.com.
A working hot shop will be held for Franklin Park Conservatory visitors Aug. 15-Jan. 3, providing an up-close opportunity to see glass being made. Visit www.fpconservatory.org for more information about Chihuly Reimagined.
The FPC exhibit is an anchor for a multi-venue celebration, “Chihuly in Columbus.” The Columbus Museum of Art opens Chihuly Illuminated Sept. 25. Visit www.columbusmuseum.org. Also, the Hawk Galleries exhibit, Chihuly XIV, opens Oct. 2 and runs through Jan. 31. Visit www.hawkgalleries.com.
BONUS!
Stay glassy, Columbus… and check out these glass-centered exhibitions.
Melting Pot is on display July 22-Aug. 21 at Concourse Gallery, 3600 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington. The exhibit includes the work of Glass Axis members in a juried show. Visit www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/arts/gallery.asp.
BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass is showing July 10-Oct. 10 at the OSU Urban Arts Space and Hawk Galleries. The work was selected by an international juried selection process with the intention of expanding the discourse about glass art. Visit www.uas.osu.edu/bigg.
Fourteen nationally-recognized glass artists will present their work at the Leaders in Glass: Selected Glass Artists from The Ohio State University exhibition, on display July 10-Aug. 29 at the OSU Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Mall. Visit www.ohio-statefacultyclub.com.