So it was interesting that while I was standing in Ron's Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens in Yakima a strong sense of something like déjà vu washed over me. That's not entirely correct, because I knew I had been in the garden before—since this was my second visit—but I felt like his tall Yucca brevifolia were familiar in a way that I couldn't place.
Then I thought of the chartreuse glass pieces at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Well played Dale...
Well played...
Weather Diary, July 2: Hi 68, Low 60/ Precip trace
Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I love glass art, so I'm easily impressed, but this piece is stunning in its chartreusiness, a real head turner, and there are just enough spikes even you couldn't resist its charms.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Chihuly glass in the garden is like mixing artificial fruit-flavored candy with actual fruit; both become less appealing when consumed together. It is lovely to see an example where glass art accentuates rather than detracts from nature, and such a great choice for a public garden.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty good comparison!
DeleteI have never cared for it either. I've never understood the need for the distraction from an already perfect view. It's always seemed silly to me.
ReplyDeleteThe plants are view enough!
DeleteNicely played for sure. While I'm also not a huge fan, sometimes it works really well.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your photos side by side, it's really easy to see where the inspiration came from.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy that I never saw it before...
DeleteI don't care for his art and when I was studying art in the 70's (including glass) he was known for being an egotistical and verysexist.
ReplyDeleteYa, I've heard that too.
DeleteBeing a KLUTZ of the first order, glass art is beyond my ken. I much prefer Mom Nature's creations, which are programmed to self-destruct without any help from me. Some of that glass stuff is pretty cool, though.
ReplyDeleterickii
From one klutz to another, I get it! One of he first jewelry gifts Andrew gave me was a glass bracelet. I thought I'd have it broken within the week—surprise, 16 years later I still have it!
DeletePretty cool interpretation!
ReplyDeleteChihuly studied here with Harvey Littleton. UW has a piece of his that I find less than overwhelming.
ReplyDelete"less than overwhelming," that's my new Chihuly put down.
DeleteHa! Just one of the many reasons I like you, I suppose! I generally don't care much for his work either, and have always wondered what the hype was about. There are so many other glass artists that do SO much more interesting work. That said, those chartreuse wonders are just perfect! I guess we all have our moments of glory.
ReplyDeleteI guess we all have our moments of glory... well said.
DeleteI like a bit of Chihuly glass but it's been overused in most botanic gardens I've seen use it - and displays by the Chihuly imitators are generally much worse. It does look appropriate in that particular setting and, like rusty metal agaves, I understand why its form resonated with you.
ReplyDeleteChihuly is a good example of an artist being wildly successful at self-marketing. I would rather see in all those places that his glass monopolizes, the work of an array of other glass artists. That said, these lime green spiky things do work in this garden.
ReplyDeleteThe similarities are spooky. Wonder if DC had these to use as models? In our sometimes hail prone area, any type of glass is a recipe for disaster though I do appreciate more subtle pieces in other's gardens.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem so similar as to be intentional.
Delete