I first saw Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures in a PBS documentary called "Chihuly Over Venice" in the late '90s. At first I was simply amazed that the artist was allowed to install fragile and sometimes enormous glass artwork throughout the city, not to mention in the canals themselves.
After only a couple of minutes though, I was amazed at the whimsical, organic, glass sculpture itself. Ever since, I've been a fan of Chihuly. So when I learned that an exhibit of his sculptures was coming to the Dallas Arboretum, I jumped at the chance to see them and indulge the photo bug in me. (Check out the slideshow above.)
The sculptures, such as "Yellow Icicle Tower" and "Blue Marlins," are stunning. Virtually every pathway at the 66-acre garden has been transformed into a colorful glass sculpture adventure. The exhibit premiered in May and runs through Nov. 5. The Dallas Arboretum is also offering extended hours on select Chihuly Nights. Check their website, www.dallasarboretum.org, for details:
A few helpful hints:
Visit in the morning when it's cooler, they open at 9am daily.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, you can easily spend an hour or two exploring the gardens.
Take a camera. Highlights include the "Float Boat" and the "Carnival Boat" in the Women's Garden and the "Blue Marlins" sculptures in the stream near the entrance. Occasionally they will mist the plants in this area, giving photos a beautiful tropical feel, something you don't see around here everyday.
