Molten Breath

Some years ago I stumbled across pictures of glass sculptures that were so different than anything I had ever seen, I was mesmerized. Glass blowing has always fascinated me, breathing form into molten glass, using fire and color. The ability to create, in any medium, is an incredible gift as far as I’m concerned. But the art of glassblowing remains mysterious and mystical to me.

Breath, fire, sand, color…Art. How amazingly spectacular.

I spent time researching the art of Dale Chihuly online after that first glimpse. I pulled up images online, devoting quite a bit of time reading up on the artist and the techniques. Not to mention oohing! and aaahhing! over the colors! The forms! The styles! My fandom is encompassing and geeky. I may not idolize, but I will certainly know as much as possible about the new thing that has captured my attention. It’s my own particular brand of obsessive crazy.

Imagine my surprise when this was one of the first things I encountered when we went to Atlantis for the aquarium tour during vacation. (Atlantis, by the way, is massive and pretty and ridiculously overpriced.) ((No, we didn’t stay there, just visited.))We were headed, at a crisp pace, toward the main hotel to get tickets and as I walked into the room, I just stopped and stared. SuperHubby and Giggles had to come back for me because I just stood there, taking pictures, looking and looking. They didn’t even know I stopped.

This is called Crystal Gate. It just shimmers in the light, right there in one of the main hallways. It’s really breathtaking, like an explosion of crystal water surging from the floor, glimmers of rainbow light dancing on each tendril. And huge. I could just hang out right in that room for a few hours, thank you very much. Just bring me food and drink.

Here are the Sun and Moon, standing tall atop monolithic pedestals smack in the middle of a casino. Which disturbed quite a bit actually, as the noise was loud and clanging and I wanted quiet to take in the color and light of these. And to remind my husband and daughter that I NEEDED TO ADMIRE THE ART, THANK YOU VERY MUCH and now stop rushing me!! The aquarium can wait.

The colors and detail, well, they speak for themselves.

I know there’s a chandelier in the hotel, but either I was too clueless to find it or too rapt in what I did encounter to see it. It’s supposed to be very detailed, and elegant, and flowing with sea shapes. Internet, do you know that that means? It means SuperHubby has to take me back there so I can take pictures for you.

Yes? YES!

There’s more about Chihuly's work here