Glass Magic: Chihuly at Kew Gardens
I don't need much coercing to visit Kew Gardens, so when the "Chihuly: Reflections on Nature" glass exhibit opened this past week, I actually raced to see it! Dale Chihuly is the world's most celebrated contemporary glass artist, an American master who has been blowing glass since 1963. He creates huge and incredibly gorgeous glass installations all over the world. You've probably seen his work in swanky hotel lobbies (or in Harrods). I've had the good fortune to see the Chihuly permanent exhibition in Seattle, Washington and also the 2008 exhibit at the San Francisco De Young Museum. So, the answer is yes, I was pretty excited to see his current take on mixing glass with natural surroundings. Chihuly's glass came to London once before, in 2005. Thirteen years ago. That exhibit was the last major Chihuly European outdoor exhibit, and it was one of the most well attended shows that Kew has ever sponsored. Kew Gardens is a massi...