Saturday, July 28, 2007

The Glass Garden

For the past several days, I have been visiting my son and daughter-in-law in Pittsburgh. Each year, my husband runs a week long workshop for teachers, so I have a week to fill. It has become a sort of tradition that I go to Pittsburgh! While I am at my son’s, I have started another tradition—I spend part of the time trimming the bushes around their house. Call me weird, but I really enjoy clipping back overgrown yew and arbor vitae.



The one evening I was there, they suggested that we all go to the Phipps Conservatory. We have visited there before, but around Christmas time, so the extent of the display was partly limited by the cold weather outside. The Phipps is a local treasure, and it seemingly always has people visiting. Back in February, Julie Z wrote about her visit to the Phipps in the dead of winter.


Our visit was prompted by an unusual display at the Phipps—
Dale Chihuly, glass artist extraordinaire, has an exhibit there. I was first introduced to Chihuly’s work by my favorite aunt who showed me and my daughter, during a visit to her, a video of Chihuly at work.


While the glass garden exhibit is open all day at the Phipps, there is a special emphasis at night, called, appropriately, Chihuly Nights. The works take on an other-worldly quality at night as the lighting makes them glow. The glass creations are placed all through the plants that are permanently living at the Phipps, with each room featuring shapes and colors to complement the living plants.







Shapes are organic, and the arrays quite stunning. Words fail, so I will let the photos do the talking.



























16 comments:

Mary C said...

Wow! Such vivid colors. Donna, you did a great job capturing those strange but beautiful plants. Thanks for sharing.

Ruth said...

Beautiful glass work, beautifully displayed. I will have to remember this place. My husband goes on hockey weekends to Pittsburg. Maybe I would have a reason to tag along.
ruth

RuthieJ said...

Wow, Donna, what a cool exhibit. All those glass sculptures in with the beautiful flowers and plants--what a treat for the eyes.

LauraHinNJ said...

Very beautiful - somehow I like the little boat with colored pebbles the best.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our own gardens could be so artistic?

Anonymous said...

It has been a while since I have visited Phipps and you brought back some memories! If you get a chance you should go visit the Nat. Aviary!

Anvilcloud said...

Pretty impressive.

Anonymous said...

what is this?? Lots of photos!! Donna these are beautiful photos - I love the colors!! It is an interesting concept also and very artistic. I never know what you will blog on next Donna and I eagerly wait to see as it widens my understanding of what blogging is and what I can do also.

KGMom said...

Mary C--these "plants" require no watering, but stay lovely.
Ruth--Phipps is a great place to visit; if you go to Pittsburgh, you can see it.
RuthieJ--the place was dazzling, almost overwhelming.
LauraH--would you believe that boat is full size and the "pebbles" that you like are beach ball sized! It was one of my favorites.
Mon@rch--there are many places in Pittsburgh that I have not yet visited, including the aviary.
AC--Chihuly is an unusual artist.
Ocean--oh, I take lots of photos; just that I usually have more words too!

Larry said...

Wow-that is breathtaking to look at!-If I'm ever over that way I would definitely make a visit there!

Pam said...

Stunning, absolutely stunning. The color, the shapes and how they all catch the light. Not to mention the movement. I could spend days just gazing at such wondrous works of art. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!

Anonymous said...

Wow! That was awesome! Thanks for the tour, as I probably will never get there in person.

Cathy said...

I notice "Wow" has been used in the above comments, but Wow! - that's the first word that came to mind. These are stunningly beautiful. Gorgeous photos, Donna! Wow.

That's worth a trip to Pittsburgh.

P.S. Thank you for mentioning the Van Gogh similarities in my photos - I'd hoped someone else would see it, too. Great minds moving togehter ;0)

Anonymous said...

These pictures are absolutely stunning!!!

cat59 said...

Wow; very cool exhibit! Thanks for sharing. I was in Pittsburgh for the first time back in June for a conference. I'm sorry I didn't visit the Phipps at that time.

dguzman said...

WOW! Nice photos of a stunning exhibit!

Mary said...

Yes, Stunning! You mentioned cold weather, Donna. Is that odd for Pittsburgh in July?

What a wonderful way to spend your time, getting your camera skills perfected - and I mean PERFECT.

My jaw hung open for the entire tour. Thanks! I wish I were there...