High Glass

Chihuly's “The Nature of Glass” exhibit at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens is packing in the crowds.  Coupled with the Noche de las Luminarias event, opening night was a mad house. While Chihuly’s crowd pleasing abilities are certainly indisputable, I can't decide which side of the fence I’m on about Chihuly and his manufactured art. 

His exhibits are so far flung across the world that I wonder about the artistic integrity of the work. He doesn't blow the glass.  He doesn't install it.  The staff that installs the glass often needs to improvise to get the pieces to fit the landscape or current conditions - as we were told by one of the Garden's staff who witnessed the 4 week long installation period.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the finished product, but is it really a "Chihuly"? Other artists have been questioned along these lines; Degas is one of the most controversial. Although well-loved and always popular at museums and gift shops, you never really know if that bronze statue of the ballerina is really one he cast or simply one of the many copies floating around the world made from his mold.

I'd like to hear how you feel about Chihuly's process and if it stands up to your definition of an artist. Or is this The Great Art Glass Swindle?

 Leave your comment and let us know.

 

Comments

[Secrest]

Those that knew Dale during his time building the glass studio at Rhode Island School of Design (late sixties, early seventies) remember his dogged pursuit of Patrons, even then. So probably the best conclusion about Dale Chihuly is, first of all, he is almost single handedly responsible for transforming blown glass from craft to fine art. And secondly, most certainly, Dale Chihuly is the King of marketing.

As a side bar, many, many glass blowers are slighted for creating Chihuly knock-offs. Actually this is a compliment considering the Masters who blow the glass which sports the Dale Chihuly signature. However, if the wags who say this knew the years and determination required to accomplish such beauty, they would bite their tongue and besides when they begrudgingly pay, what they consider an exorbitant price to the local artisan, perhaps they should carefully consider what a Chihuly would set them back...

[Evelio Mattos]

He certainly has a great vision, and a great ability to market the complete package that is Chihuly. The questions is, when are you buying art, and when are you buying into art?

Marketing aside, is a piece blown by a craftsmen on Dale's staff with their own signature any less valuable or beautiful than the same piece blown by the same person, but signed by Dale?

My answer is no.

[L&T Glass]

The Phoenix Botanicals are a gorgeous site to beyold any time of year, but this just adds to ther reasons to stop on by. I was there last year, but I'll be sure to swing by and see whats new when I go back in February.