Chihuly Garden and Glass Seattle

Seattle has much to offer, including arts and entertainment. If you are an art lover, you probably know the name Dale Chihuly. A rare talent, his name is synonymous with glass art. He has left an indelible mark on the art world and continues to astound us. Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle opened in 2012. The Wright family who owns and manages the Space Needle invited the artist to have a permanent installation in his hometown. The museum is also part of the Seattle Center, an arts and entertainment campus.

Chihuly Garden and Glass Seattle

The mission of Chihuly Garden and Glass focuses on celebrating the creative vitality of the region through artist Dale Chihuly’s work while inspiring engagement with the local cultural community. The attraction features a journey through eight galleries, a vibrant Glasshouse, and a charming Garden filled with blown glass creations. Within these spaces, visitors encounter an extensive collection of Dale Chihuly’s impactful art series, showcasing his innovative approach to glass as an artistic medium.

At the heart of Chihuly Garden and Glass stands the awe-inspiring Glasshouse, a 40-foot tall, glass and steel structure spanning 4,500 square feet. This remarkable space features a 100-foot long sculpture, Chihuly’s largest suspended creation, boasting a vivid color palette. The interplay of natural light and the passage of time transforms the perception of this masterpiece. Notice the view of the Space Needle through the windows.

Inside the Glasshouse at Chihuly Garden and Glass

The lush outdoor garden was a collaborative effort with a landscape designer. The carefully curated plant collection harmonizes with Chihuly’s art, creating a dynamic backdrop that evolves with the seasons.

The theater provides insight into Chihuly’s artistic process through informative videos, offering a behind-the-scenes look at glassblowing and installation work. It also serves as a venue for lectures and community events, enhanced by state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities. Explore this immersive museum and experience the vibrant world of Dale Chihuly’s artistry. Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109; https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/

CLICK HERE to read ETG co-founder Richard Bilow’s article about his experience at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.

The Museum of Pop Culture

MoPoP (The Museum of Pop Culture) is steps away from Chihuly Garden and Glass also located within the Seattle Center. You may want to schedule a visit here as well. Originally named the Experience Music Project (EMP), the museum officially opened in 2000. Then in 2017, the name was changed to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) to reflect its exhibitions which featured pop culture, as well as fashion, visual art, tv, movies games and toys.

The building is a brilliant work of art unto itself, designed by the legendary architect Frank O. Gehry. MoPOP presents new exhibitions 3-4 times a year. Some with guest curators, and at least 1-2 of those are created in-house.

MoPOP Online

If you can’t make the trip, MoPOP also has a permanent online exhibition featuring more than 80,000 objects. Artworks are on view from the genres of Hip-hop and Grunge which is often called the “Seattle Sound.” In addition to other localized spotlights, the museum collections include Guitars played by Jimmy Hendrix who was born in Seattle.

MoPOP has a large number of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, and related instruments in the permanent collection. These historic objects help illustrate the evolution of the guitar in the 20th century and beyond, along with the musicians who used these instruments of wire and wood to create some of the most memorable sounds in popular music. MoPOP, 325 5th Avenue N at Seattle Center, Seattle, WA, WA 98109; https://www.mopop.org

Since you are in this area (both of these art museums are in the Seattle Center, be sure to schedule a visit to the Space Needle which is right next door to Chihuly Garden and Glass. You can’t miss it…just look up! CLICK HERE to read an article about the Space Needle as well as Pike Place Market. The latter attraction is located just about a 10-15 min drive in Downtown Seattle.