April 4, 2019
By: Rebecca Lee
The Dale Chihuly Collection, in downtown St. Petersburg, is all made out of glass.
His use of color and asymmetrical shapes make his work unique. Chihuly is a pioneer in the studio glass movement. He has been creating glasswork for more than 40 years.
Glass is made by heating sand at a temperature of 1700 °C until it becomes liquid. Sand undergoes a complete transformation when transformed into glass.
The collection is part of the Morean Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg, located in 720 Central Avenue. It’s in one of the main art districts in the United States.
“Because we already have the Dali Museum,” Andy Schlauch, executive director of the Chihuly Collection and the glass studio at the Morean Arts Studio said. “There was already history of single artist museums here in St. Pete.”
This collection is the first installation of Chihuly’s art in a building that’s designed specifically to showcase his work.
Most of Chihuly’s pieces start at $5,000. These small pieces take approximately 30 minutes to create depending on the layers of color added.
“It is owned by the Morean Arts Center,” Schlauch said. “They purchased a vast collection of Artwork by Dale Chihuly with the intention that they would create a permanent exhibition.”
Unlike traditional art museums, this collection encourages people to get up close and personal with the pieces.
“When you come to see Chihuly’s work,” Schlauch said. “You don’t see it, you experience it.”
Dale Chihuly’s glass work is now in over 200 different museums.
The displays showcase glass bowls, flowers and massive chandeliers.
“I think it is worth coming through to see Dale’s work,” Ryan Weiner said. “Because if you see it once, then every time you see a piece in other cities or in other places where they have one, it will resonate with you, and you’ll realize that it’s a Dale Chihuly.”
Tickets include a live glass blowing demonstration by local St. Petersburg artists.
“Everyone comes out saying how much they love it,” Schlauch said. “And how amazed they are by it.”
Admission costs $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for senior citizens, $12.95 for students and children under 6 are free.
“The gallery is interesting,” Paul Carroll, a visitor, said. “The pieces are what I expected them to be.”
The Morean Arts center opens Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, check the Morean Arts center website or call 727-822-7872.
