Inspiration Destination: Chihuly at Kew Gardens

While in London, I had the opportunity to visit a late-night glass exhibit at Kew Gardens. The botanical gardens were lit up after hours and featured work from Dale Chihuly. The mix of art and nature was breathtaking. There was something to see around every corner. In the greenhouses, I felt like I was on a scavenger hunt. Some sculptures were right out in the open, others were hidden among the plants, and many were hanging from the ceilings.

The Lily pad greenhouse was my favorite. The warm humid environment mixed with the soft glowing lights created a calming and almost fairytale-like atmosphere. When you entered the greenhouse, you walked to the left and slowly made your way around the pond in the middle. The water was dark and mysterious, and filled with lily pads and white flowers. The sculptures were a great representation of the flowers in the water and gave off a warm glow over the pond. I especially loved how they reflected off of the water, creating the illusion that the glass pieces were never-ending.

While some sculptures matched the surrounding flowers, others were random organic shapes that fit the space well. I really enjoyed the contrast of this blue glass sculpture against the greenery in this exhibit. The shape of the pieces worked well with the wildness of the habitat because it intertwined with the plants, making it feel like it was meant to be there.

Some of the pieces were left to your interpretation. I overheard many people saying they thought this sculpture looked like a feather duster. I thought it looked like a pinecone and felt this piece was cleverly placed given the surrounding pine trees.

The detail of these pieces was outstanding. Some were smooth with a mix of opaque and transparent parts to add texture to the piece. Others were rigid and created a bubble-like effect. These subtle details were a nice surprise and added a lot to the art when you were able to get close enough to see them.

Dale Chihuly did a fantastic job blending nature and art together. It was a great twist on the already beautiful gardens in London. These sculptures really lit up the night sky.

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Rachael Polden