Crossing Paths With Dale Chihuly
I now understand, after several years of wondering, why the work of master glass artist Dale Chihuly keeps showing up in my life.
My most recent and third encounter with his work came this past Sunday. He has installed fabulous glass sculptures in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
in this post to visit a 26 slide show of Chihuly’s
installation in the Desert Botanical Garden.
CLICK HERE to visit slideshow.
This encounter in Phoenix is the first that happened by my own design (or was it my own design?). The previous two encounters were happy accidents (or were they accidents?). The first was three years ago. I was looking for an inspiring venue in Philadelphia to hold a two-day one-on-one career change coaching session and was led to the National Liberty Museum. Chihuly’s work is featured in the museum’s Glass Gallery, where the combined beauty and fragility of glass serves as a metaphor for freedom. The work so captivated me that I sought and found a PBS video about an installation of Chihuly’s glass in Venice. Gorgeous.
CLICK HERE to visit slideshow.
The second encounter occured when I consulted to Jacksonville University (see Hot Glass Is Cool) and was invited by glass artist and teacher Caroline Madden to spend a few hours watching students fire glass. Madden sometimes works with Chihuly, and a spectacular Chihuly piece hangs in the lobby of the university’s Davis School of Business.
CLICK HERE to visit slideshow.
When a person, place, or idea keeps showing up in my life, I presume that an important message is being sent and I just didn’t get it the first time. The message here has nothing to do with glass; it is about Chihuly’s obvious commitment to his artistry and craftsmanship. That message has haunted me throughout my life. I have seen examples of such commitment in other artists, as well as in engineers, stock brokers, street sweepers, flight attendants, educators, business people, shop owners, farmers, people in all sorts of occupations. Chihuly and all those other people challenge my commitment to my artistry and craftsmanship. Apparently I need those challenges repeatedly.
Tags: Artful Work, botanical, Chihuly, desert, garden, genius, glass
