The works of Dale Chihuly

The first time I saw the work of Dale Chihuly was at the Corning Museum of Glass where visitors are greeted by a vision of blown glass that resembles a fluorescent green-tentacled sea creature.  It is called the Fern Green Tower and is just one of several of Chihuly’s works at the museum. I was impressed with Chihuly’s creativity. I was somewhat surprised when I saw another Chihuly at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino.  It seemed like an unlikely place to see such a fragile looking piece of art. The Turning Stone Chihuly is called the “Tree of Peace.” I felt like I was on a Chihuly Discovery Trail when I saw another one of his creations at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. The bright red glass work soars up through the ceiling to the floor above and is titled “Flame of Liberty.”   Chihuly’s work is fantastical and so easy to recognize I decided to do some research about the artist. 

Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma, Washington and studied glassmaking and taught glassmaking in many locations worldwide.  His work is found in more than 200 museums worldwide. I was excited to learn that a new museum dedicated to his works opened in May in Seattle, Washington. And, Seattle was on our travel schedule.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass, the world’s largest Chihuly exhibit, includes eight galleries, the Glass House, and the Garden. It is located at Seattle Center, which is also home to the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, and the Experience Music Project so it was very convenient to all the places we wanted to visit while in Seattle.

I think of Chihuly as the Willy Wonka of glass – it magical and colorful. We started in the Glass Forest where molten glass was dropped from step ladders to create a forest of glass trees. It is an example of Chihuly’s teamwork concept in creating art. The Northwest Room with examples of his baskets explores the influence the Northwest area and the Native American culture had on his work. On display is his collection of Native American trade blankets and also his Native American photographs by Edward S. Curtis.

Chihuly works from his sea life period are found in the Sealife Room where the massive piece includes starfish, octopus, and floats amid a mass of colored artistic glass works. In the Persian Ceiling Room, children and adults, had fun looking for the cherubs hidden in the colorful glass “petals.” To me, is seemed that people looked in silenced awe at his works in the Chandeliers Room. I was especially taken with the Float Boat on a “sea” of black glass that reflected the brilliant, whimsical cargo.  Chihuly actually used a boat to transport some of his work which is where the idea came from.

Chihuly has always been intrigued by glass houses and now he has one with a 100-foot long suspended glass sculpture. Most impressive. Actually, our first view of Chihuly’s works in Seattle was from the viewing deck of the Needle as we looked down into the Garden. The Glass House exits to the Garden with four monumental sculptures amid the plantings that represent the seasons going from “hot” represented by the red, yellow, and orange “Pacific Sun” to cool. Now, whenever I visit a new location I will check to see if there is a place to see more of Chihuly’s works.

Long Beach Peninsula, Washington

I read where “Forbes Traveler” named Long Beach one of “America’s Favorite Beach Towns” and even though it wasn’t beach weather we decided to make it a side trip from Portland, Oregon.  It turns out swimming is not recommended along the 30-mile long beach because of the dangerous currents and cold waters. Cape Disappointment is called “The Graveyard of the Pacific” due to the many sailing ships that were wrecked trying to get into the Colombia River.

On the way into town we stopped at the Visitors Center where the staff were extremely helpful in helping us make the best use of out two days. We picked up maps and brochures then headed to the Shelburne Inn, the oldest continuously operating hotel in the State of Washington. There was a lot to love about it – friendly staff, wonderfully preserved rooms, incredible antiques everywhere, and great food.

After checking into the Shelburne we headed to the beach to watch the sunset. We walked along the boardwalk and checked out the 38-foot long grey whale skeleton. The whale beached itself and died in 2000. People were razor clamming – a popular family recreational activity. We thought about giving it a try because a three-day permit is inexpensive and the equipment – a clam gun and net - is readily available. When they see a “dimple” in the sand they push the “gun” to a depth of six to ten inches, put their thumb over the air hole, pull it out of the sand, dump the sand in the net and, hopefully, there will be a razor clam in it.  When we got back to the hotel, one of the owners, David Campiche had just returned with 15 large razor clams – the daily limit. David prepared them for us as an appetizer. Excellent.

At the Columbia Pacific Museum we learned about the history of the area from the pre-contact days to Lewis and Clark to today. At one time the fishermen hauled in nets filled with salmon that were so huge they needed horses to pull them ashore.  I was in awe of the exhibit about the man who rowed across the Pacific. Good grief… what was he thinking! 

John loves kites so the World Kite Museum was a must visit. It is home to over 1500 kites from 26 countries. There were several video presentations including one the military use of kites during WW II for communicating and observing. One video was especially impressive of people catching bats with their kites. When we were in China there were always people in the parks flying kites.  They were all ages but mostly the elderly with what I presumed was a grandchild.

I always thought cranberries were a New England crop, and they are, but it turns out Washington State is also a major producer.  We visited the Cranberry Museum and took the self-guided walking tour of the cranberry bogs on the way to Oysterville, a village that seemed frozen in time. The village dates from the mid-1800s and, at one time was a rowdy boomtown, but when we visited we seemed to be the only people there. There are over 25 well-preserved buildings that comprise the Historic District.

On the way back to the Shelburne we fell for the signs that advertised “See the Alligator Man at the Free Museum.”  Carney attractions are alive and well! It was a gift shop with a display they claimed was an alligator man!

Visit Seattle

John and I made our first trip to Seattle but; hopefully, it won’t be the last. There is so much to see and do.  Luckily, we stayed at the Pan Pacific hotel, a chain that we have had the pleasure to experience in several Asian countries. Not only is the hotel first-rate but it also offers free shuttle within five miles of the hotel.  That was golden given the traffic and fees at the parking garages near the Space Needle. 

 

On our first evening we had a lovely private dinner in our room.  It really set the tone for our stay.  The next morning we took the shuttle to the Space Needle, the gotta’ do when visiting Seattle. Luckily there was no line because the lines can get long. The 605-foot Needle was built as the cornerstone for the 1962 World’s Fair. Even though the weather left something to be desired the view was still impressive. We walked around the outside deck supplemented with telescopes and inside the videos and displays were informative. Seattle has a great location between the mountains and Puget Sound.

So many of the sites we wanted to visit are located next to the Space Needle in Seattle Center.  Next to the Space Needle is the EMP Museum in an impressive building with a design that reminded me of the bowls I made in Girl Scouts by heating 78rpm records over a bowl. The museum was the brain child of Paul Allen a co-founder of Microsoft.  Some of the music – even what was considered retro – was after my time.  However, I found the exhibit, “Born to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket” fascinating. I never thought of the black leather jacket as an indication of cultural change. On display are jackets that were protective gear for aviators during the World Wars and later evolved into revolutionary wear starting with Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.  I will always look at the black leather jacket in a different light. Actually, there are many interactive things to do. I enjoyed watching the closed-circuit TV of groups who entered On Stage to create their own music video. The instruments and sound tracks are provided complete with bright lights and screaming fans. I chatted with a family visiting from Croatia. They loved the experience and ended up with their own CD and poster. There is always something of interest for everyone in a museum.

Also near the Space Needle is the Pacific Science Center. I must admit it is more to our liking.  No matter how many science centers I visit I always find something interesting. The Insect Village was excellent offering an up close look at a bug’s world but I am always intrigued by the displays robotic dinosaurs.  Science museums often have IMAX movie, which, for me, is a chance to sit back, relax and learn while being entertained.

One day we headed to Pier 55 for a narrated Argosy boat tour of Elliott Bay past the city center, grain elevators, and ship yards. Heading south out of Seattle we stopped at the Museum of Flight located next to Boeing Aviation. John was in his glory.  There were a slew of flight simulator experiences plus a talk by a former WWII bomber pilot.  The William M. Allen Theater had several informative movies on the Hubble, Mars exploration, and many other topics which I found interesting.