if you live in san francisco, you might remember the spectacular chihuly exhibition at the de young museum and the legion of honor in 2008.
dale chihuly | chandelier room
chihuly at the de young | de young museum and the legion of honor | san francisco, CA | 14 jun-28 sept 2008
photo credit dale chihuly
so, of course, my husband, bob, and i looked forward to seeing chihuly at the halcyon gallery during our recent trip to london.
when i think of chihuly in london, i can’t help thinking about the dramatic 27 foot high chandelier in the reception rotunda at the victoria & albert museum (v&a), which remains on permanent display following the chihuly at the v&a exhibition in 2001.
dale chihuly | v&a chandelier | 2001
victoria & albert museum | london, united kingdom
photo credits lisa walsh | innerspace
but, what made chihuly at the halcyon gallery so engaging was the opportunity to get so close that you could have touched everything! you could see how the chandeliers were assembled by hand wiring each of the individually made long, short, bulbous, twisted, or spiraled glass elements onto the cage-like interior armature.
dale chihuly | dusky sky chandelier
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credit halcyon gallery
dale chihuly | cranberry and clear chandelier
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credit halcyon gallery
you could also marvel at the amazing craftsmanship on a pair of cut glass sconces, made at the waterford crystal centre in ireland for the chihuly over venice project in 1995-1996.
dale chihuly | pair of waterford sconces
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credits matilde aguilera and halcyon gallery
or, the sculptural gold and quartz two tiered chandelier, made specifically for a stairwell in the gallery’s grade II listed building.
dale chihuly | gold and quartz two tiered chandelier
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credits halcyon gallery and halcyon gallery
the exhibition includes other site specific sculptures, such as a 24 foot mille fiore glass garden.
dale chihuly | mille fiore garden
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credit halcyon gallery
as well as chihuly’s signature botanical or aquatic sculptures, such as macchia, persians, and venetians, or seaforms and boats.
dale chihuly | sunset boat
chihuly | halcyon gallery | 5 dec 2011-21 apr 2012 | london, united kingdom
photo credit halcyon gallery
if you are in london, you ‘must see’ chihuly at the halcyon gallery. if you can look, but not touch!