| The group of sculptures is called 'The Nature of
Glass' and has already been shown at Kew Gardens in London. The pieces were
inspired by the desert plants of the Sonoran Desert and are set out of doors
among the plant collections on display. This group, 'Desert Wildflower
Towers', is the first one to be seen as you near the entrance to the
gardens. The similarity in form between the glass and the surrounding plants
is quite obvious here. |  |
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The similarity is rather less obvious here, but this is a striking example
of the glass maker's art. The individual 'balloons' and curlicues are
mounted on an armature and were put together in situ, but it must have taken
a whole container to ship these pieces safely across the Atlantic. |
| We have visited the Desert Botanical Garden before,
but that was in December. Jan had decided then that we had to come back in
the spring to see the cacti, desert trees and wild flowers in bloom, so we
set out early in the morning to do just that, as it gets very hot in the
middle of the day. However we were very fortunate that there was also a
special exhibition of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly at the same time, so
we were able to enjoy two events in one. |  |
 | A sculpture inspired by the blues of the desert sky?
With the sunlight behind it, it was beautiful. |
| This may have been inspired by the octopus agave.
Perhaps the green bits are grubs of some sort. |  |
 | This piece was suspended from a roof beam, but I
thought its inspiration was quite clear...
|
| ...the orange flowers of this succulent agave. |  |
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Not sure what these were meant to be, but they made me think of wichiti
grubs. |
| So is it a flower, or is it an insect??? |  |
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Some people take their art very seriously. This photographer was really
getting down to work. |
| Most of the pieces had names but we didn't always
mange to find them. |  |
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Blue Polyvitro Crystals.
These miniature icebergs were floating in a small
still pond, but hadn't scared off the local wildlife. |
| Again it is easy to see where the inspiration for
these slender red columns had come from. Despite the colour, they seem to
blend in with the tall narrow shapes of the surrounding cacti. |  |
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Blue Reeds, Marlins & Floats.
Similar shapes, but this time in blue to
enhance (or be enhanced by?) the blue greens of the blue agaves. |
| Mexican Hat & Horn Tower 11' x 7' x 7' |  |
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Saffron Tower 27' x 5' x 5'.
Another photographer at work. At 27 feet
tall, One needed to be some distance away to get the whole thing in the
picture. Jan just liked the composition with both of us in frame. |
|
Float Boat.
The boat is resting in a dry wash.
Wonder if it would float away when the rains come? |  |
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Green Basket Set.
Chihuly does make smaller pieces, and a few were
displayed in the shop and so could be seen in close up. This particular set
shows the beautiful clear quality of the glass, which was finer than we had
expected. These could be purchased, complete with a dust free display case. |
| But at over $5,500 for each set they were just a
little over our budget. Misty Persian Pair 11" diameter $5600. |  |
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