Chihuly: 1968-1996

by Donald B. Kuspit

For more than 30 years, Dale Chihuly's work, principally in glass (but occasionally including such unconventional media as neon and ice), has challenged traditional distinctions between craft and art. Chihuly's oeuvre is notable for its vibrancy of color, the boldness of its shape and execution, and, in recent years, its studied mimicry of natural forms, from cacti to seaweed and jellyfish. The scale of these blown-glass works ranges from pieces suitable for a coffee table to vast hanging chandeliers that drape from ceiling to floor or shoot up like Christmas trees from below. At times, Chihuly's work is merely decorative, a collection of brightly colored, softened glass forms that resemble melted Christmas tree ornaments, sea anemones, squash, wriggling eels, and other organic shapes. The dizzying abundance of work created by Chihuly himself and his students-cum-assistants at his Pilchuk Glass School, and the enormously successful marketing of this art (Pilchuk, located near Seattle, is open to visitors), has lead some viewers to an overfamiliarity with the work. But art critics Donald Kuspit and Jack Cowart argue for its originality and importance in their introductory essays. (Perhaps overly Cowart compares the pieces to Matisse, Turner, and Walt Disney's Fantasia, while Kuspit evokes Freud, symbolism, and T.S. Eliot to argue for the works' seriousness of intent.) Even those readers familiar with Chihuly will be impressed with the capacious variety of form and function--candy bowls to chandeliers--captured in over 280 pages of photographs that exhaustively chart the artist's creations, along with the two essays mentioned above and a biographical time-line. For Chihuly fans who may not be able to afford a Chihuly original of their own, this book is the next best thing. --John Longenbaugh

Genres: Art

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Donald Kuspit is an American art critic, poet, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of art history and philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and former professor of art history at the School of Visual Arts. Kuspit is one of America's most distinguished art critics.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the work of this artist. I find Chihuly's creations mesmerizing.

[Marcela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye candy

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the pictures? fantastic. the quotes? amazing. the essay? obviously written by a man - and not in a good way.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Dale Chihuly fan!! I have watched a few documentaries on his work, and how he creates his pieces and when I saw this book at the library I had to check it out (no pun intended). While there are tons of pictures, they accompany the story of his early life and how he came to be the artist he is today. I would like to find an updated biography/collection book as this only covers until 1996. His chandeliers, orbs, and bowls are my absolute favorite pieces. Very informative and entertaining read :D

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So dynamic! The book is fantastic-of course much of the glass dispays are in Venice so how could I not love it?!? I am fortunate to have seen his exhibit in Portland.

[Georgene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of photos of Dale Chulily's art glass. I skipped most of the introduction and went directly to the photos. A treat for the eyes and a balm to the soul.