‘Wows’ of wonder
Dale Chihuly glass exhibit is a mind-blowing journey
You’d think there’d only be so many times you could say, “Oh, wow!” in a single day. You’d be wrong. A trip through the Dale Chihuly exhibit in the New York Botanical Garden is an “Oh, wow!” journey of constant amazement.
The 20 mind-blowing works — some overwhelmingly massive, some delicately small — are dotted throughout the 178acre garden, all showcasing the glass sculptor’s signature organic shapes in brilliant colors.
Turn a corner and crane your neck for the skyscraping “Scarlet and Yellow Icicle Tower.” Enter the nearby conservatory to come face-to-face with “White Tower With Fiori,” whose milky whites and gentle fucshias match the tropical plants and flowers growing around it.
The exhibit begins the moment you walk through the entrance. Hanging from the ceiling of the entrance canopy are three “Chandeliers,” one yellow, one blue, one green. If you’ve ever read H.P. Lovecraft’s short stories, you’ll understand when the best description of the trio is that they would fit perfectly into his Cthulhu Mythos.
The intricacies of “Sol de Citron” seem to defy the laws of physics. How did Chihuly and his coterie of fellow glass workers get the pieces of glass to wind around each other, forming confusingly intertwined squiggles and puzzles?
The Botanical Garden is a place of wonder on its own, a fascinating collection of plants and trees from places worldwide. It’s a visit made for strolling, not rushing. Plan to spend several hours. You won’t feel as if you wasted your time.
Contact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.