See ‘Chihuly in the Garden’ at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The glass artist’s work is well-sited to complement and contrast with beautiful plantings. His new installation opens Saturday
I took in the Dale Chihuly exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden 12 years ago and loved it so much that I returned several times. Back in 2004, exhibiting in botanical gardens was a new gig for the world-famous glass artist. Since then, Chihuly has become known for his botanical garden installations, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden has doubled in size. So it’s a wonderful thing to see Chihuly return, with all sorts of new sites used for the placement of the sculptures and new vantage points from which to enjoy them — at a distance, from overhead on the Canopy Walk and up close. Here’s a sneak peek.
As I got closer, I could see how it was constructed. The color and the way the spikes attached to the main stem reminded me of something distinctly Southern — bottle trees.
Off in the distance, Fern Dell Paintbrushes stood out in the shaded garden, thanks to the chartreuse stems and brilliant red tops.
A major part of the Atlanta Botanical Garden that didn’t exist back in 2004 is the 40-foot-high, 600-foot-long Canopy Walk (not recommended if you don’t like heights — it can be dizzying). Suspended right at eye level from the tallest parts of the walk was Chartreuse Hornet Polyvitro Chandelier.
As I looked down from the Canopy Walk, I could see the brilliant Neodymium Reeds in the woods below, and I made a note to cruise by on the path once I got down there. The way the reeds are placed in dappled light lets them give off a range of purples that seem right at home in the woodland.
In the center of the reeds in the dry creek was this almost metallic piece called Green Hornets and Waterdrops. It’s as if someone had sprinkled magic drops on the ferns, and this one has come to life in glass.
An almost neon orange artwork was also easy to spot off in the distance from the Canopy Walk. The height of Saffron Tower held its own beneath the canopy.
The new water mirror reflected the tower in its entirety. I can’t wait to see this one lit up at night.
Here, three past exhibitions meet up, including blacksmith Andrew Crawford’s gates, the goddess who became a permanent installation after 2013’s Mosaiculture show and now Chihuly’s Fiori Boat and Niijima Floats, which brings an explosion of color to the surface of the water. Back in 2004, this spot was the main road in to the gardens; now it’s the Cascades Garden. Basically, they took out a paved parking lot and put in paradise.
Sol del Citrón is a spectacular orb that greets you as you come out of the woods and head toward the rose gardens and Great Lawn.
Here’s a closer look at how intricate these pieces are. Though I missed the installation, the guides told me that it was surprising how rough the process of fitting all these pieces together was.
Between the allée and the Great Lawn, Sapphire Star proved to be a favorite selfie backdrop.
Carmel and Red Fiori dotted the sides of the Great Lawn. They almost look as if they’re dancing, which is fitting as this is where the garden will host its “Concerts in the Garden” series this summer.
One of the best things about this exhibition is the element of surprise. I peeked over the wall of the Japanese garden and saw the top of Turquoise Marlins and Floats beckoning me inside. I couldn’t wait to round each corner and see what awaited.
In the Gardenhouse courtyard, Three Graces Tower sprouted from the fountain in brilliant red-orange.
When I entered the Fuqua Orchid Center, I walked right past this installation, Black and Green Striped Herons With Icicle Clusters. I think it’s because I’m used to seeing otherworldly exotic plants here.
Here’s a closer look at the beautiful curves and strong spikes.
The Fuqua Conservatory is a multisensory experience. There’s the steam and the mist; the sounds of the birds and amphibians that live there; then during the exhibit, the chance to find glass treasures in the jungle. They’re part of Chihuly’s Ikebana series, his take on the traditional art of Japanese flower arranging.
By the way, here’s a hot tip: I usually like to hit the gardens a few days before a big exhibit to see it being installed — watching the artists work on Mosaiculture back in 2013 was particularly fascinating. I thought I’d get a peek of the installation of “Chihuly in the Garden” by arriving a few days early. However, it was fully installed, and we were able to enjoy the exhibit without any of the crowds that are sure to be there this weekend. While I was a tiny bit sad to miss the installation process, it was even better to feel as though we had the place practically to ourselves.
Spring is a wonderful time of year to catch the show, and it will be interesting to check back and see it as the flora changes around it over the next few months.
More: What Sculpture Brings to the Garden
More: What Sculpture Brings to the Garden
Location: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta
Dates: April 30 through October 30, 2016 (closed Mondays)
Info: atlantabg.org
I’ll take you on a tour along the path I chose. Once out of the visitors center, it was a delight to round a corner and get a glimpse of the sculpture Indigo Blue Icicle Tower. It has a great relationship with the spiky plants I encountered in front of it.