CHIHULY (2017): Home

FOREWORD

DALE CHIHULY IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE as one of the most daring and innovative artists of his time. For decades, he has subverted expectations about the medium of glass, the role of glass artists in the art world, and the range of venues in which their art can be shown. The New York Botanical Garden is the ideal setting for CHIHULY, the artist's first major garden exhibition presented in New York in over a decade. From April 22 through October 29, 2017, the Botanical Garden features works of art by Chihuly both indoors, in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building, and outdoors, throughout the magnificent grounds.

The Garden's 250-acre National Historic Landmark landscape is an open air museum, offering visitors the thrill of seeing Chihuly's spectacular works not only by the changing light of day but also at night, when they are transformed by carefully orchestrated lighting under the evening sky. With a rich suite of programming, including displays of poetry by New York City schoolchildren, film screenings, special weekend celebrations, and a concert series, CHIHULY provides an immersive experience throughout the summer and fall.

For their important contributions to the preparation of the exhibition, I wish to thank several individuals. First and foremost, I extend my appreciation to Dale Chihuly for bringing his unique vision to our iconic institution and urban oasis. Also essential to the show's success have been Leslie Jackson Chihuly, President and CEO of Chihuly Studio and Chihuly Workshop, and her talented team. Alice Quinn, Executive Director of the Poetry Society of America, and author Jacqueline Woodson have been invaluable partners in developing the poetry program. 

This exhibition would not be possible without the generosity of our major funders, including Bank of America and Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

I hope you are one of the many who have taken advantage of this rare opportunity to explore Chihuly's celebrated work, from the large-scale installations placed throughout this incomparable site to the intimate vessels and drawings exhibited in the Art Gallery, and have left the Garden uplifted, entertained, and with a holistic view of Chihuly's artistry and legacy.

GREGORY LONG
Chief Executive Officer
The William C. Steere Sr. President
The New York Botanical Garden