E-Newsletter : Issue #141 May 2019 – Dale Chihuly Special Edition

 
Note from Kenn Holsten

Greetings and welcome to this special edition of Holsten Galleries News which is entirely focused on the works of artist Dale Chihuly. I recall vividly meeting Dale for the first time in 1982 at the opening of a solo exhibition of his work at what was then Holsten Galleries in Palm Beach. Something inside told me that we would be working together for many years. I had no idea, however, that 37 years later Holsten Galleries would still be working with Chihuly Studio, nor could I imagine the immense impact that Chihuly would have on the world of glass art.

Dale Chihuly Quote

"I’m an artist, a designer, a craftsman, interior designer, half-architect. There’s no one name that fits me very well."

Featured Works

Harvest Yellow Seaform Set with Strawberry Lip Wraps

One of Chihuly’s most iconic series is his Seaform Series. Conjuring marine life, these organic shell-like creations typically consist of one large form which contains smaller similar elements. This particular example is prototypical with it’s undulating forms, beautiful palette and contrasting lip wraps.

Moroccan Blue Persian Set with Ruby Lip Wraps

Dale Chihuly discovered early in his career that through human breath, heat, and gravity, he was able to achieve forms in glass that had not previously existed. The Persian series’ animated grace was realized through the exploration of this spontaneous and organic process. The piece featured here is a magnificent example of this series.

Mikado Orange Basket Set with Flint Lip Wraps

Chihuly’s approach to glassblowing-allowing glass to find its own form by using only breath, fire, and centrifugal force-may best be demonstrated in his exquisitely organic series Baskets. There is a simplicity and purity to this series, all the more so because they are typically a single color with contrasting lip wraps.

Carmine Pheasant Macchia Set with Sun Lip Wraps

In 1981, as the Macchia series was in its developmental stage, Dale Chihuly began methodically exploring the chemical properties of colors to create compatible combinations. These "color studies" went on to inform Chihuly’s technique of mixing opaque and transparent colors with glass powders, dusts, and jimmies (small chunks of colored glass), which has defined this monumental series for thirty-eight years.

 
Drawings

Another aspect of Chihuly’s art are his well known Drawings. Early in his career, as he began experimenting with the teamwork approach to creating his glass sculptures, Chihuly would create quick, gestural drawings to convey to his team the feeling of what he was looking for. Now he devotes a significant amount of his creative time to creating his colorful Drawings on paper. Most of these Drawings take their inspiration from Chihuly’s well known series (Baskets, Chandliers, Ikebanas, etc.). I have chosen to feature here two intensely dramatic Basket Drawings.

Basket Drawing

Basket Drawing

 
Installations

Clear and Gold Chandelier

This Chandelier is one of many which Holsten Galleries has secured on behalf of its clients. Chihuly enjoys creating these architectural masterpieces for site specific installations, working closely with the clients and taking into account their color and style preferences. This one graces the foyer of a home in Westport, CT. Many of you have probably viewed Chandeliers in public spaces throughout the world, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

I hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Holsten Galleries News! As always, I welcome your questions and comments.

Kenn Holsten