Two Parts Italy

A trip to Venice is always a good idea. My visit at the end of October had two main objectives: first, to escape from the crowds and chaos of Lucca’s annual Comics and Games event. Second, there was a special reason for choosing Venice for my Comic’s escape this year. That reason has a name - Chihuly.

The Accademia Bridge always has wonderful views and this year it is even better with 3 nearby Chihuly installations

Dale Chihuly is an American artist, known for his stunning works in glass. His work is innovative - using color, shape, light, gravity, and space to create unique glass pieces. From small glass baskets to glowing chandeliers and huge intricate sculptures, the pieces are mesmerizing. It was in the Venini Glass Factory on Murano, in 1968 as a Fulbright scholar, that he learned classic Italian glassblowing methods and formed his life-long connection with Venice and its glassblowers.

In 1996, Chihuly returned to Venice for a massive project – placing 14 of his chandelier pieces along and above the canals of Venice. Now, 30 years later, he has returned to Venice with 3 amazing pieces. The exhibit, which lasts through November 14th, is thanks to the Pilchuck Glass School and the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

The End of Day Chandelier at Palazzo Querini alla Carità. A riot of color and texture.

The three sculptural works are all located near the Accademia Bridge. To really appreciate them, they should be viewed both during the day to clearly see their colors and shapes and again after dark when they cast their light against the dark Venetian sky.

The Gold Tower stands some 30 ft high in garden of Palazzo Franchetti. Delicate, with branching filaments of golden glass, it shines bright during the day and glows at dusk. Like many of Chihuly’s works, it is perfectly positioned within the garden and enhanced by the architecture of the surrounding palazzo.

The Gold Tower is even more dramatic when seen against the dark night sky

The End of Day Chandelier is the most colorful of the three pieces with its interesting texture and its tentacles of yellow, blue, red, orange, and green reaching 16 ft into the sky. Located just outside of the Academia Gallery, it is placed up high on the terrace of Palazzo Querini alla Carità.

Nighttime view of the End of Day Chandelier

The Blue and Green Tower is a bit harder to locate. It is placed in the Garden of Palazzo Balbi Valier which is a private space without an easy viewing spot on land.

At 26.5 feet high, it can easily be seen from the Vaporetto when approaching the Accademia bridge. But you have to be on the correct side of the boat! Now, ask me which is north, south, east, west in Venice and I won’t have a clue. What I can say is that when traveling from the Piazza San Marco / San Zaccaria vaporetto stop towards the Accademia / Rialto / Ferrovia stops, you can see the tower from the side of the vaporetto facing the Accademia stop. It is a stunning sight.

What a joy it was to see Chihuly’s work in the city that was one of his early inspirations.