Friday, May 27, 2011

Sun Gates

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Chinese Festival at MoBot 1

Dale Chihuly is easily the best known and most popular glass artist in the U.S. His sun gates flank the rose garden at our beloved Missouri Botanical Garden. Chihuly's work is often spectacular. On the other hand, I once had a conversation about Chihuly with an artist I know and respect; some of his work hangs in our office. His two word review of the glassmaker: too easy. He's got a point. De gustibus non est disputandum.

By the way, a bunch of new images have been added to the Tour de Grove bicycle races set on Flickr here.


Downtown St. Louis 365 has attitude and grace.

Pom Poms

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12 comments:

  1. cieldequimperMay 27, 2011 at 1:14 AM

    In Tacoma in April I saw some wonders by Chihuly. This is fantastic.

    I've been reading the blogger help forum and for some people it works neither with Chrome, Safari or the others so I won't bother to even try nor do I want to. What bugs me most is not being able to sign out of my account to post on Artsy Versailles.

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  2. lewi14@gmail.comMay 27, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    What a wonderful sunny gate and what a great work. If you cross the gate you'll get a sunny disposition. I wish you a sunny day.

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  3. brattcatMay 27, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    I'm not certain "too easy" are the words I'd use to describe Chihuly's work. Down in Florida there is an enchanting exhibit of his glass creations. This image of yours is pretty enchanting, too.

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  4. Luis GomezMay 27, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    Beautiful!

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  5. VirginiaMay 27, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    I love Chihuly. We have some fabulous flowers hanging in the entrance of our museum here, believe it or not..
    THat one looks a lot like my hair when I'm in Paris and it's drizzly all the time! HA
    V

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  6. PerthDailyPhotoMay 27, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Hi there from Perth, Australia. I have just spent a very pleasant twenty minutes scrolling down and taking in your images. Your previous post about the devastating tornado and equally horrific results was terrifying,to look out you window and see something like that ,I can't even begin to imagine. The hailstones yes, we had one similar in Perth last year so much damage and even two deaths. In contrast, the gates here are so much fun, wonder how they would stand up to rough weather though?

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  7. KateMay 27, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    I know several glassblowers whom I respect, and I think I'll get their reaction on "too easy." Easy or not, I'd LOVE to own a few Chihuly's. The exhibitions I've seen take my breath away!

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  8. Stefan JanssonMay 28, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    Easy for some. Looks great.

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  9. SharonMay 28, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Next time I make a trip to St. Louis, I have to make sure I visit here. I certainly visit the one in Phoenix often enought! I'm there so often I'm surprised they haven't offered me a job yet.

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  10. UnknownMay 28, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    I thought of Chihuly the minute I saw this gate. Fantastic!

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  11. Oakland Daily PhotoMay 29, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    How is this glass protected when the weather turns foul? Wouldn't hail or rain damage it?

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  12. Nathalie H.D.May 31, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Oakland DP has a point - what's the answer to that? Or is the work less fragile than we think?

    Now for the "too easy" bit. Yes they said the same about Picasso. Yet no-one before him ever expressed his or her creativity the way he did. I believe the same applies to Chihuly : while some of his artworks may now appear fairly easy to replicate the whole spectrum of his ideas and creativity sets him miles apart from any other glass blowing artist.

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