Artist Dale Chihuly's forty-year career continues to surprise and astound as he radically transforms perceptions about the medium of glass. In this beautifully illustrated book, you will see Chihuly's extraordinary installations at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. He has taken glass well beyond the traditional display case, out into nature itself. The brilliance of colour and form of the glass, and the plants it is set among, creates a new reality within the conservatory. Long before arriving at Garfield's gate, Chihuly had been placing his work in unusual settings, often outdoors. From the canals of Venice to the historic walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem, Chihuly has worked his magic. These images, side by side with Chihuly's quotes, provide insight into the personality of this major artist, and show the wide range of his interests as well as his sense of humour. An essay by Barbara Rose addresses Chihuly's place in art history, while the essay by Garfield Conservatory director Lisa C Roberts provides a history of garden conservatories (captured so effectively in the vintage postal cards from Chihuly's own collection that open the book).
Artist Mark McDonnell explores the intriguing locations that Chihuly is drawn to and his ongoing interest in glass buildings.