Spring Mailer | 2022

S P R I N G 2022 A T D E S E R T B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N

WE LCOM E BACK TO THE GARDEN

SPRING EVENTS Dale Chihuly, Sol del Citrón, 2014, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, installed 2021. © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved. Photo by Nathaniel Willson

Third Time’s The Charm There’s an old adage that suggests it takes three tries to get something right.

Well that doesn’t really apply to Chihuly exhibits at Desert Botanical Garden because our first presentation of Chihuly’s work in 2008-09 was enormously popular, and our second showing of his work in 201314 was equally successful. But the current Chihuly exhibit, on view now through June 19, seems destined to be the best ever at the Garden.

A walk around the Garden’s core trail is a spectacle to behold, with 11 separate Chihuly installations to enjoy.

An old friend—the iconic Chihuly Sun—has returned, but this time in a dazzling citron green color. In Ottosen Entry Garden, a new Chihuly boat composition full of colorful fiori (Italian for flowers) has set sail. And the Succulent Gallery now glows day and night with its installation of multiple neon sculptures, appropriately nick-named “tumbleweeds.”

The most unique of all the exhibits at the Garden during this third presentation of Chihuly’s art are located in

the indoor galleries of Dorrance Hall, where some of the most delicate works ever created by the artist are presented for the first time at our venue. There are stunning installations of artwork from Chihuly’s beloved series such as Macchia, Rotolo, Mille Fiori, and the Venetians – among others – and their beauty defies description.

Finally, we are proud to be jointly presenting this exhibit, officially named Chihuly in the Desert, with our colleagues at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, where six major installations of the artist’s work are also now on view. It has been a pleasure for all of us to create this experience for you, and we hope that you will agree that, indeed, “Third Time’s the Charm.”

Ken Schutz The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director

Chihuly Celebration Proceeds supported Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science Event chair Rebecca Ailes-Fine shared, “This was the first time Dale Chihuly returned to the same venue for a third time. Each exhibit raises the bar, and this year’s was the best I’ve seen.

Opening night was a celebration with friends, amongst the stunning artwork, live music and the beauty of the Garden.” All net proceeds supported Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science.

SAVE T HE DATE

Dinner on the Desert

On Saturday, April 23, Garden friends will gather for the 36th Annual Dinner on the Desert. Event chairs, Mac and Russ Perlich, look forward to welcoming guests as they enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, culminating in an exquisite dinner in the Garden’s magical outdoor setting. Please contact Allora McChesney at 480.481.8160 or dod@dbg.org for any DOD reservation or underwriting questions. Tickets start at $750.

Special thanks to our event underwriters: Pink Martini featuring China Forbes Concert Barbara & Don Ottosen Urban Electra Trio Jan & Tom Lewis Welcome Drink Ken Schutz & Craig Thatcher Backstage Dinner Rebecca Ailes-Fine & Peter Fine Departure Favors Rose & Harry Papp Photography Kathy & Chuck Munson

Dale Chihuly, Sonoran Neon (detail), 2021, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

CH I H U LY I N TH E D E SE R T

BY T H E N U M B E R S

11 STUNNING

573 PIECES

5 FEARLESS

installations throughout the Garden’s main trail

of glass in the never-before-seen Lime and Lava Red Tower

volunteer “dust busters” keep the sculptures looking spotless

5 DAYS

11 TEAM MEMBERS

to install the vibrant, large-scale Sol del Citrón

from Chihuly Studio completed the installation in 16 days

27 NIGHTS

12 NEON

Garden staff members

of Las Noches de las Luminarias with the glow of Chihuly in the Desert

tumbleweeds illuminate the Succulent Gallery in Sonoran Neon

Volunteers supported the installation

SHIPPING TRUCKS traveled 1,435 miles to deliver the artwork

424 LIGHTING FIXTURES

6 INCREDIBLE GALLERIES

installed to achieve the exhibition’s captivating evening light

located in Dorrance Hall

CHIHULY IN

ART • ARCHITECTURE • NATURE

THE DESERT Dale Chihuly’s art returns to Arizona with a dual exhibition —

By Nora Burba Trulsson

R

eeds, rods, spheres, spears, cylinders, spirals, towers with tendrils and chandeliers— all made of luminous, brilliantly hued glass.

Dale Chihuly’s crystalline artwork is beloved and known worldwide—and it has come back to Desert Botanical Garden for an unprecedented third time.

Chihuly in the Desert runs now through June 19 and is actually an exhibition at two locations—throughout the lush grounds of the Garden, as well as Scottsdale’s Taliesin West, set against a backdrop of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture.

Dale Chihuly, Neodymium Reeds, 2021, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Indeed, Chihuly has mounted shows at botanical gardens around the world, including locales such as London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, but the desert has held a special fascination for the artist. “I grew up surrounded by water

in the Pacific Northwest,” says Seattle-based Chihuly.

“Working in deserts has a unique appeal. Environment is critical to my work, whether it’s a garden, a museum or an architectural setting. I’m excited to bring my work again to Desert Botanical Garden and to also present it against the inspiring architecture of one of my influences, Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s wonderful that these two organizations are working together to bring arts experiences to their communities. ” While most know Chihuly as a key figure in the studio glass movement, his background includes interior design and work for an architectural firm in Seattle.

In fact, had things worked out a bit differently, Chihuly might have made his name in textiles. In the early 60s, while studying interiors and architecture at the University of Washington, he applied for a Fulbright scholarship to study weaving in Finland, but the scholarship didn’t work out. A few years later, he reapplied, this time to study glassblowing in Italy—and his career path was formed.

In the late 60s, Chihuly received a master’s in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (where he studied with Harvey Littleton, who’s often called the father of the studio glass movement) and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. His academic education complete, Chihuly began a lifelong exploration of glass, traveling the world to meet masters of the art and establishing a glass program at RISD. Eventually, he founded his own school and workshop, Pilchuck Glass School, on the site of a tree farm north of Seattle. There, as early as the 70s, Chihuly, his students and collaborators began experimenting with the large-scale environmental installations for which he has become known. The school has become a magnet for art students and glass artists from all over the world. Presently, Chihuly’s work is included in the collections of museums such as the Metropolitan MuseDale Chihuly Fire Amber Herons, 2021 um of Art and the Smithsonian, and he has mounted 8 x 22 x 4’ Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved. major exhibitions from Arkansas to Montreal, Venice Photo by Nathaniel Willson to Singapore. The Garden also has a Chihuly work in its permanent collection—“Desert Towers,” which greets visitors near the entry. explains, “and then some smaller works are exhibited inside Dorrance Hall, which was converted into five Work on installing Chihuly in the Desert began at the galleries to showcase the more fragile pieces.” At Garden in November, says Schutz. “The exhibition Taliesin West, six installations grace the grounds and includes 11 all-new installations on the grounds,” he interiors, including Wright’s personal living quarters.

My work gives people a lot of joy, and that makes me feel like I’m really a lucky guy.

– CH I H U LY The actual installation of pieces was an intuitive process, says Chihuly’s director of exhibitions, Britt Cornett. “Each exhibition is designed in response to the environment in which it is presented,” says Cornett. “Site visits and photography are critical components to developing exhibitions of this scale.”

“The Chihuly team does most of the work at the Garden in coordination with our staff,” explains Schutz.

“It was a month-long process. We also offered the help of our volunteers. Dale Chihuly is still very much hands on in the design and concept for the exhibition. He did a final walk-through and stayed for the opening.”

Dale Chihuly Opal and Amber Tower, 2018 14 x 8½ x 8½’ Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, installed 2021 © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Nathaniel Willson

According to Schutz, Chihuly in the Desert can be viewed day or night, but recommends hitting the “sweet spot” of late afternoon into the evening, when the works can be viewed in sunshine and, later, illuminated by the moon and landscape lighting.

Day or night, Chihuly in the Desert is a visually uplifting exhibition, one that can be experienced more than once. “I exhibit widely,” says Chihuly, summarizing his approach to putting his glass sculptures out in the world. “ It gives me great pleasure that probably millions of people get to see my work. My work gives people a lot of joy, and that makes me feel like I’m really a lucky guy.”

ART • ARCHITECTURE • NATURE

Dale Chihuly, Fiori Boat, 2018, and Blue Birch Reeds and Scorpion Tails, 2021, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, installed 2021. © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Dale Chihuly, Float Quad Drawing, 2014, and Basket Drawings, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, installed 2021. © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Dale Chihuly, Rotolo, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Dale Chihuly Paintbrushes (detail), 2021, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

SPO N SORE D BY

US BANK

Spring Events

AT THE

Cadillac Assembly Line Photo by Elaine Thomas Campbell

Dale Chihuly Sonoran Neon (detail), 2021 Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix © 2021 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Nathaniel Willson

Music in the Garden

Chihuly after Dark

Now through May 27

February 15, March 15, April 19, May 3 & June 7

Spring Butterflies

Corks & Cactus

Now through May 8

February 27

Garden

Agave on the Rocks March 25

Ballet Arizona Presents An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden May 17-June 2

Lotería Nights

Desert Sol

March 10 & April 14

Monthly January-May

Tickets at dbg.org

1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008 480.941.1225 | dbg.org

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit no. 1269

MISSION The Garden’s commitment to the community is to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition and conservation of desert plants of the world with emphasis on the Sonoran Desert.

We will ensure that the Garden is always a compelling attraction that brings to life the many wonders of the desert.

| @dbgphx

Visit the Garden Shop to purchase one-of-a-kind finds and official Chihuly Workshop merchandise. The Garden Shop also features Chihuly Studio Edition Glass and limited edition Fine Art Prints by Chihuly.

Open daily until 8 p.m.