Fiori: A Chihuly Garden of Glass
October 7, 2006 – February 25, 2007

The dazzling art of Dale Chihuly returns to the Conservatory with a sculpture from his newest series of work - Fiori. From the Italian for “flowers,” this installation of his celebrated hand-blown glass shapes is reminiscent of a vibrant garden landscape. See this magnificent garden of glass and a stunning array of pieces from the Conservatory’s permanent Chihuly Collection, including a reinstallation of the spectacular red and yellow Sunset Tower.

The Chihuly Collection was on view at Franklin Park Conservatory during Chihuly at the Conservatory (2003-2004). After its grand success, the collection was purchased for the Conservatory in October 2004 with the support of ten local donors. With this gift, Franklin Park Conservatory is now the only botanical garden and one of few cultural institutions in the world to permanently house a major signature collection of Dale Chihuly's artworks.

In addition, the Conservatory's gallery space has become a virtual Hot Shop and Glass Studio, where visitors can experience and examine tools and machinery used to make blown glass art. Seven interactive stations with visual graphics guide visitors through simulated glass blowing exercises such as gathering molten glass from the furnace, shaping the glass using air and the blower's bench, and seeing finished glass pieces cooling in the annealing oven.

To enhance the Fiori exhibition, the Showhouse includes a floral display reminiscent of "millefiori" - a glass technique most often seen in glass paperweights. The technique incorporates colorful, patterned glass canes sliced into designs that look like a mound of flowers. The flower display features circular flowerbeds with tightly placed blooms in varying colors and patterns. The exhibition flowers will change seasonally and will include chrysanthemums, poinsettias, cinerarea, and kalanchoe. For more information on the millefiori glass technique that inspired this floral display, Click Here.

The Conservatory also will offer extensive events and activities including:

• Monthly glass-making demonstrations by Glass Axis
• A special bus tour to the Toledo Museum of Art to view the new and architecturally acclaimed Glass Pavilion
• School field trip programs and adult group tours
• Family Fun Day activities with Chihuly-inspired crafts for kids
• Family holiday break activities with storytellers and stilt performers from High Jinks Dance Company
• Garden Design seminar with Urban Wild, Ltd., where students will “dreamstorm” a garden design inspired by Chihuly’s Fiori

Botanica, the Conservatory's gift shop and greenhouse, will sell special Chihuly Studio Edition glass pieces, note card sets, books, calendars, and other Chihuly-inspired gifts for the home.

Other Fiori installations have been created for Tacoma Art Museum in Washington; L.A. Louver Gallery in California; Marlborough Gallery in New York; Museum of Art Lucerne in Switzerland; and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Chihuly, who enjoys an international reputation for his glass artistry, is best known for his large-scale exhibitions including Chihuly Over Venice (1995-96); Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem 2000 at the Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem (2000); Chihuly in the Park: A Garden of Glass at Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory (2001-02); the Chihuly Bridge of Glass in Tacoma (2002); Mille Fiori at the Tacoma Art Museum (2003); and Gardens of Glass: Chihuly at Kew (2005). Chihuly's spectacular creations can be found in more than 200 museums worldwide including the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Smithsonian American Art Museum; and the Columbus Museum of Art. More can be learned about the artist and his work at www.chihuly.com.

Inspired by the exhibition, the Conservatory will offer exciting events including:
Special Events | Children & Family Programs | Lectures | Courses & Workshops

 

Special Events

Lampworking Demonstrations by Glass Axis
Artist Hannah Rosner, lead lampwork instructor at Glass Axis, demonstrates lampworking — a technique that uses a tabletop torch to apply heat to cold glass to change its form. Programs begin with a brief talk about the process and finish with demonstrations of basic beads and glass floral techniques. Rosner has an MFA in Theatrical Design and more than fifteen years teaching experience combined with twenty years as a working artist. These events are free with admission.

• Saturday, January 13, 2007, 1 - 2 p.m.
• Sunday, February 18, 2007, 2 - 3 p.m.

Glass Axis is a non-profit, community-access glass art studio, gallery, and educational facility located in Grandview, Ohio. Classes for beginners to professionals are offered in all major glass art techniques. Visit www.glassaxis.org or call 614.291.4250 for additional information.

 

Children & Family Programs

Family Fun Saturdays
Family Fun Saturdays are exciting, fun-filled days for children ages 3 and up with an adult companion. They take place the second Saturday of the month, October through May. Each Family Fun Saturday starts promptly at 11 a.m. and is free with admission.

• January 13, 2007: Try your hand at our interpretation of the ancient glassmaking technique, millefiori. Use Perler Beads to create your own millefiori inspired design to take home.

 

Lectures

An Artist's View of the Studio Glass Movement
Wednesday, January 24, 6:30 p.m.

Renowned studio and teaching artist, Walter Lieberman, presents a lecture from his popular 10-part series on the history of glass given at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Designed for the general public, the lecture focus is on the Studio Glass Movement that spans from the early 1960s to today and has produced such luminaries as Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Dick Weiss and others. An important artist in the Studio Glass Movement himself, Lieberman has mastered the sophisticated technique of painting with enamels on glass. He has taught at many schools including Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, and Pratt Fine Arts Center. His work is in museums and private collections worldwide. Don't miss an opportunity to meet an engaging artist and teacher with a founder's view of a turning point in modern glass art.

The cost is $5 for members and $10 non-members (includes admission to Conservatory).

Courses & Workshops

Garden Design
Saturday, January 27, 2007, 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Susan Weber, APLD, owner of Urban Wild Ltd., will lead a “dreamstorming” journey where participants will create a sacred garden space on paper. Gazing at Fiori: A Chihuly Garden of Glass and meandering through the Conservatory’s plant collections will provide the inspiration for shapes, colors, forms, and textures. A guided meditation helps transform the inspiration into a tangible garden plan that participants can use to express their ideas to a professional designer, or to make happen on their own.

The cost is $30 for members and $36 non-members (includes light refreshments). Call 614.645.5923 to register. Registration is required by January 22, 2007.