The Ultimate in Garden Art: The Chihuly Exhibit at Phipps Conservatory

By Jill M. Nicolaus (critterologist) December 13, 2007

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Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh teamed up with renowned artist Dale Chihuly to create a spectacular fantasy of glass exhibited among the conservatory's lush plantings. The popularity of the exhibit resulted in an extended run until February 24, 2008. Here's why you should go...

Every gardener can identify with Phipps Conservatory’s continual efforts to create space for more and larger plants since its founding in 1893. Phase one of the most recent and ambitious expansion effort was completed just two years ago. The architecture of the soaring glass canopies and the extensive plant collections beneath them caught the eye and the remarkable imagination of Dale Chihuly.

This extraordinary exhibit is not just about displaying unique pieces of glass. It is about an art installation designed especially for a unique botanical setting. In a studio or museum environment, Chihuly’s glass pieces might seem bizarre or merely fanciful. In the conservatory, they somehow seem right at home – the ultimate in garden art! Every room of the conservatory has a different mood, played up by the glass installations. Soft blue pieces in the Japanese Courtyard resemble cranes, elegant and serene.

The Sunken Garden room houses Chihuly’s graceful “Macchia,” set between dripping fountains.

Playful twists of glass in Mardi Gras colors rise from an explosion of jungle foliage. The round Niijima Floats have a more subtle beauty, echoed in the patterned variegation of the elephant ears edging the pond.

Every turn of the pathway brings you to a different view, whether it's this striking installation in the butterfly garden or a sweet surprise like these little stream-side shapes.

The translucent colors of the art glass shift with every change in the sun and clouds. At night, each piece is carefully illuminated, and the mood of the entire exhibit changes again.

The colors of the glass accent the plants that surround them. The bright red “birthday candles” of glass seem suitable to the celebration of greenery in the new Thai exhibition.

Purple exclamations of glass counterpoint the golden tones of the cacti in the Desert Room. Blue and aqua shades set off the silvery foliage of the display in the East Room.

The forms and colors in some of the glass pieces imitate the plant growth around them. In this enormous container planting, it's hard to see where the plants leave off and the artwork begins. Other pieces are smaller in scale, tucked into nooks under arching greenery.

Many pieces resemble leaves or flame-like flowers on undulating stems. The golden funnel shaped pieces caught my eye, rising from the undergrowth like some fantastic fungus.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, so Phipp's Conservatory has long been on my list of favorite places. Their seasonal shows and holiday displays are always spectacular, but the Chihuly exhibit was far beyond anything I could imagine. The new spaces and revitalized plantings alone are worth a special trip to the Conservatory to see. With the added opportunity to see an unparalled exhibit of Chihuly's art, Phipp's deserves to be high on your "must see" list this winter.

For additional information on Dale Chihuly’s art and installations, go to chihuly.com.

Take five minutes to enjoy this video tour of Chihuly at Phipps, including some remarkable night time views of the exhibit. There are higher and lower resolution versions of the video available to choose from, depending on the speed of your internet connection.

For information, directions, hours, and exhibit tickets, go to Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens and Glass. You'll find additional information about Phipps Conservatory and its history at that site also.

Photography by Jill M. Nicolaus, July 2007.

About Jill M. Nicolaus   Better known as "Critter" on DG, Jill gardens in Frederick, MD. This week, I've been cutting lavender, putting up pluots (plum-apricot fruits), and pulling weeds (always, LOL). I love being outside in the cooler morning -- coffee cup in one hand, watering hose in the other -- watching the birds and butterflies among the flowers.(Images in my articles are from my photos, unless otherwise credited.)

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Subject: Glass art

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Posted by surfcat (from Leesburg, VA) on December 18, 2007 at 1:29 AM:

Really enjoyed the pics and video. Thanks.

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Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 12, 2008 at 8:15 AM:

Morning Jill!
Hey, thanks to your article, hubby and I are headed for Phipps on Saturday! I'm so excited to see Chihuly's work again (he doesn't get to Pondunkville much. LOL).

I did read on the website that photography for commercial purposes is restricted. Did you have to pay the fee to get and use those gorgeous pictures? I'm frothing at the mouth to wear out my camera on Saturday, but want to be able to include some of the shots in my portfolio.

How much do they charge to let you use them?

Hope this darn snow doesn't mess up our plans.

Toni

This message was edited Feb 12, 2008 7:53 AM

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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on February 12, 2008 at 11:32 AM:

Toni, as far as I could discover, that restriction didn't apply to photos taken to accompany a newspaper or magazine article. You'll have to call and ask. It may be as simple as the idea that they charge a fee if your photography requires elaborate tripods etc. that can be an inconvenience (I think they allow but charge a fee for wedding portrait photography, although I might have them confused with another place).

I'm glad you're going!

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Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 12, 2008 at 5:50 PM:

I thought the information on the photography was a little vague. Emailed, but received no response.

I'm excited! Ordered our tickets and I'm gonna have a day away from the teepee. :o)

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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on December 13, 2007 at 7:13 AM:

I saw this in Florida and was overwhelmed by it. The art work really complements the plants.Thanks for writing such a lovely article on it.

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Posted by bugme (from Barnesville, GA) on December 13, 2007 at 7:20 AM:

I saw his work when at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and was absolutely awestruck by the beauty. He also had an exhibit at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, a ceiling done and how pretty it was. Your pictures are lovely.
Sharon

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Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on December 13, 2007 at 7:35 AM:

Love it!! Excellent article, descriptions and incredible photos - only wish I could see it in person. Thank you for "taking us with you" :)

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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 7:53 AM:

Yes indeed - a lovely article and your photo tour was pure pleasure :)

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Posted by AYankeeCat (from Fairfield County, CT) on December 13, 2007 at 9:42 AM:

I saw the exhibit in the Bronx Botanical Gardens. I made a desktop out of a photo of one of the hanging installations - it was really beautiful. (Too bad I can't show it to you.) :(

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Posted by terriculture (from london
(United Kingdom)) on December 13, 2007 at 12:17 PM:

WOW! Thanyou so much, that place looks fantastic,I would love to visit in real life one day!
Your pictures are brilliant, thanks again for the tour.

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Posted by nutmegnana (from Adamstown, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 12:26 PM:

Great article, Jill, and lovely photographs. We're planning to get up there to see it.

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Posted by FlowrLady (from Olive Branch, MS) on December 13, 2007 at 12:34 PM:

Jill, thanks for your article. I saw a Chilhuly exhibit in St. Louis, I believe last year. It is awesome to behold! Eye candy, if there ever was any eye candy!

Pat

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Posted by tucsonjill (from Tucson, AZ) on December 13, 2007 at 1:48 PM:

If anything would get me to Pittsburgh between now and February, that would be it--fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 1:50 PM:

Thanks! Walking through the exhibit really was an experience that can only be hinted at by words and photos... I hope that people will make every effort to go if they possibly can! :-)

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Posted by adinamiti (from Bucuresti
(Romania)) on December 13, 2007 at 3:06 PM:

Jill,congratulations for a wonderful article ! Thanks for the tour! I never saw such an exibition,very interesting !
Adina

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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on December 13, 2007 at 3:17 PM:

Another world opened. Thank you so very much. The video and ensuing videos that I have discovered are wonderful. Will take a week to view them all.

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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 3:28 PM:

Yes! I've seen some neat PBS specials -- I think there was one that went into some detail on how he and his people set up the Venice exhibition -- but I really liked the short video clip they did at Phipps. There's no chatting and interviewing on it, just walking through the exhibit with a little background music playing. Nice!

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Posted by plutodrive (from Denver, CO) on December 13, 2007 at 3:44 PM:

Great photos. You reminded me of a trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago when I lived there a few years back. I was awed by Chihuly's sculptures but your pictures are better than what I can remember. Thank you.

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Posted by slcdms (from Ripley, MS) on December 13, 2007 at 3:49 PM:

My daughter and her hubs deliverd a load of Chihuly glass to a conservatory several years ago. the people there treated them like they were VIP's. they gave them a tour of the place. They did not realize what they were bringing to them was so important to them, of course they knew they were hauling his glass, but the operators of the place gave them the VIP treatment.
Sandra

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Posted by girlgroupgirl (from Atlanta, GA) on December 13, 2007 at 4:03 PM:

The photos are beautiful! We couldn't even get into the Chihuly exibit here, even though we tried several times - it was even held over and sold out every day!

GGG

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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 4:19 PM:

If you do get a chance to get up to Pittsburgh, it's good to get tickets in advance, especially for the popular evening times. I really want to go back to see the pieces lit up at night!

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Posted by darlindeb (from Claremore, OK) on December 13, 2007 at 6:33 PM:

I need to start a fan club for Jill. Really enjoy your articles. Love, love, love the photos.

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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 13, 2007 at 6:54 PM:

He has always knocked my socks off...and your article did justice to the beauty of his creations. I am humbled and grateful. Thank you.

Yokwe my friend ☺
Shari

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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 13, 2007 at 10:38 PM:

OMG Jill, I thought chihuly was going to be some nasty kind of pepper or who knew! WOW! Do they sray installed or can they be moved to a different garden or what happens afterwards? How do you pronounce chihuly? Thank you. xxxx, Carrie

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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on December 13, 2007 at 10:43 PM:

I know the pieces don't remain, but I'm not sure if they're eventually sold privately or where they end up... there are a *lot* of pieces, and many of them are enormous.

Hmm... my best attempt at writing it out the way I've heard it... Chi-HOO-lee

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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 14, 2007 at 12:17 AM:

So it's not like the way that Simon and Garfunkel song I heard as a kid about "me and Hoolio" of course turned into "me and Julio" once I put 37 and 59 together. It really is pronounced something like it looks. To me. xxx, Carrie

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Posted by dryad57 (from Indianapolis, IN) on December 14, 2007 at 12:35 AM:

What a nice article and great pics! I was lucky enough to see his exhibit both at the Garfield Conservatory in Chicago, and at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Many of the pieces were the same or very similar, but it is extremely interesting to see how he and the staff stage the pieces and to discover them as you go through the Gardens. Very enjoyable article.

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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on December 14, 2007 at 12:42 AM:

Unique! I'll have to check and see if this comes to the Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati. Thanks, Jill!

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Posted by FlowrLady (from Olive Branch, MS) on December 17, 2007 at 2:09 PM:

Hi GGG! Good to see your in here!

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Posted by cactuspatch (from La Luz/Alamogordo, NM) on February 19, 2008 at 11:54 AM:

Wow! I missed this article before. Glad I found it. We have a couple of his large works in a playhouse near my town. They are really beautiful to see in person, but I imagine that coupled with a garden it is just exquisite!

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