Chihuly Garden and Glass Opens with Dedication Ceremony on Monday, May 21

SEATTLE, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After just nine months of construction, Chihuly Garden and Glass, an exhibition looking at the career of Northwest artist Dale Chihuly, will open to the public in Seattle at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 21. To mark the occasion, Dale Chihuly will dedicate the exhibition's centerpiece Glasshouse in a brief ceremony, culminating with the artist signing and dating one of the building's structural beams.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120521/SF10550-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120521/SF10550-b)

Dale Chihuly said, "It is every artist's dream to be able to showcase their work in one place and I am pleased to have this opportunity in my home community.  The best works of my career are brought together in this exhibition and I hope everyone likes it."

Located at the foot of the iconic Space Needle at Seattle Center, the city's cultural hub, Chihuly Garden and Glass has transformed 1.5 acres of asphalt into a spectacular outdoor garden, a 40-foot-tall Glasshouse and 8 galleries of Chihuly's art. The exhibition brings together all the elements of Chihuly's work, including Drawings, signature glass series, large architectural installations and personal collections in a long-term exhibition. The exhibition's centerpiece Glasshouse features one of the artist's largest, suspended sculptures created specifically for Chihuly Garden and Glass.  In addition to the artworks, the exhibition also features a first look at Chihuly's extensive personal collections in the Collections Cafe.

Dale Chihuly calls the Pacific Northwest home and supports many arts and civic communities in the region including Hilltop Artists and Pilchuck Glass School, both of which he co-founded. Pilchuck Glass School joins Pratt Fine Arts Center, ArtsFund and Seattle Public Schools as community partners for Chihuly Garden and Glass. Through these organizations Chihuly Garden and Glass supports opportunities for involvement and engagement in the arts, including the creation of a science curriculum based on glass blowing for middle school students in the Public Schools.

It is estimated that over 400,000 people a year will come to Seattle from all corners of the world to view this exhibition. 

About Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass provides a look at the career of artist Dale Chihuly. Located at Seattle Center, the exhibition features an Exhibition Hall offering visitors a comprehensive look at Chihuly's significant series of work. Visitors will also enjoy the centerpiece Glasshouse - a dramatic structure housing a suspended 1,340-piece, 100-foot-long glass sculpture -- and the Garden, which is a backdrop for a number of monumental sculptures and other installations. Also housed in the Exhibition Hall is the Collections Cafe, featuring pieces from Chihuly's collections including carnival chalk ware, vintage accordions, vintage radios and cameras and The Bookstore, showcasing the works of local artisans and a variety of books and materials relating to Chihuly's artworks, including some Studio Editions and prints. For more information visit: www.chihulygardenandglass.com. 

SOURCE Chihuly Garden and Glass