Sneak Peak at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Arlene Wright, Jan Rogers, Ken & Cathi Hatch

This afternoon, Ken and I went on a hardhat tour to see the progress being made on the new Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center.  (As it turned out, we didn't really have to wear hard hats, just safety goggles.)

Ken Hatch and Billy O'Neill

When we first arrived, we were whisked past the lines of people waiting to go to the top of the Space Needle and directed to a special elevator which took us to the Skyline Level for a private reception and exhibition presentation prior to the actual tour of the construction site.  The new Chihuly Garden and Glass is promised to be the most comprehensive display of Dale Chihuly's artwork on public view.

We saw many friends and acquaintances at the reception and tour including Billy O'Neill, Mary Bass, Jerry Schwarz, Llew, Joni & Andrew Pritchard, Shelley & David Hovind, Leo Van Dorp, Jane & Dan McConnell, Betty Tong & Joe Miner, Tim Girvan, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Jan Rogers, and Arlene Wright.

The reception program began with the introduction of the new Chihuly Garden and Glass Executive Director, Michelle Bufano and Public Relations Manager, April Matson.

Cathi & Ken Hatch, Llew, Joni & Andrew Pritchard
photo courtesy of Scott Mitchell Leen

Glass House interior under construction

Model of the Glass House

At the end of the program, Michelle asked if there were questions that she could answer though she had only been in the job a couple of weeks.  Billy O'Neill stepped in to answer a few of the questions that she could not answer about what will actually be included in the exhibition installation and said that it will represent the 50 years of Dale's art, so about half of the art will be brand-new and about half will be from his previous bodies of work.  In addition, some of Dale's many collections will be showcased including fish decoys, shaving brushes, accordians and a number of others.  Billy's best response about what to expect when the project opens was that really no one has the full understanding of what Dale will ultimately include in the display because that is the creative process and how Dale works best.

Though Curmedgeon Ken did complain a bit about having to walk through the construction site, it was fun to feel the scale of what the Chihuly Garden and Glass will be and especially the glass house portion with its soaring glass ceilings.  There were workmen on site working on the project to try to achieve the scheduled May opening.  I am sure when the Chihuly Garden and Glass opens, it will take Seattle's collective breath away!