Snapshot
LIFESTYLES
DAY TRIP
The exhibition, which features artist Dale Chihuly’s pieces both indoors and out, runs through Jan. 10.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK
L
egendary glass artist Dale Chihuly has quite a following, and the folks at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are certainly aware of that. It’s why they’re showcasing many of the artist’s works for the third time, with 12 pieces displayed at different locations on the stunning grounds and several hundreds more exhibited indoors. “Chihuly fans are a very interested group that will travel hours and hours to see the pieces,” says John VanderHaagen, the complex’s director of communications. Design buffs will immediately be drawn to the Chihuly at Meijer Gardens show and its gleaming, swirling, sculptural glass that evokes everything from sea elements to marsh reeds. The show, which runs through Jan. 10, includes displays of many of the artist’s sketches, which feature watercolor, acrylic paint, ink, pencil, charcoal, graphite, and more. “The show’s pieces haven’t been shown together in these combinations anywhere else in the world,” VanderHaagen says. The precise installments required kid gloves and attention to detail, he adds. “Everything was packed delicately in crates for cross-country transport, and arrived here by truck. Our team and Chihuly’s team spent weeks doing the siting dance — deciding where some pieces should go in water, which needed cement bases poured, and that kind of thing.” Showgoers should first watch the 10-minute movie on Chihuly to learn more about his upbringing and fascination with glass. It’s a colorful introduction to his work. For those who’d rather not walk the stunning gardens to see the outdoor Chihuly candy, efficient trams with knowledgeable guides pick up passengers regularly and wind their way past and around the glass installments, as well as other head-turning sculptures. Riders are welcome to disembark and spend more time at various spots, then catch the next tram to venture off for more sightseeing. You’ll want to spend time in the Japanese gardens, where anchored boats are filled with
Art Experienced
The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is transformed by the work of Dale Chihuly TEXT BY MEGAN SWOYER
colorful Chihuly glass. In the pond, several lemon, orange, lime, and cobalt-glass orbs float, eliciting an otherworldly feel. A sedge of curvy, curious-looking blue herons pops out of the water, showing off their glistening tones of cerulean, sapphire, and violet. Red reeds, purple-and-blue blooms, and more glass ornaments also adorn the park. It’s a good bet Chihuly, whose studio is in Seattle and who’s enjoyed a 60-year career in art, agreed to ship his creations to the sculpture park for a third time due to the extraordinary bond he built with its founders, Fred Meijer and his wife, Lena. “They had a special patron/artist relationship that started in the early 2000s when he had his first exhibit. It was more than business; they connected on a personal level over their shared appreciation for art and nature,” VanderHaagen says. The Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park also has three of Chihuly’s pieces in its permanent collection. “In fact, Chihuly gifted Lena a pair of white tennis shoes that was painted in Dale style, with Dale colors,” VanderHaagen reveals. Lena opted not to put them on a display shelf, but would wear them around town. Says VanderHaagen:
“They’re well-loved and well-worn.” Today, the shoes are on display in the ticketing area. Visitors can take home a bit of Chihuly and pick up everything from a Chihuly-designed bowl-style sculpture to a backgammon set that has a Chihuly design on the board at the Meijer Gardens gift shop. “We’ve got actual studioedition glass pieces at about $7,000 to $9,000 each, and limited-edition prints that are about $2,000 or more,” says Katie Sevigny, museum store director. Adds VanderHaagen: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we have to order more of those. We’ve sold several studio-edition glass pieces, as well as limited-edition prints. Chihuly fans are involved.” Other Chihuly items that are non-branded (not from the studio) include Chihuly notecards, books, blankets, magnets, postcards, and puzzles. VanderHaagen shares that with each season, the outdoor sculptures take on new appeal. “The backgrounds in nature will evolve as the seasons roll out, so the artwork will look different this fall as compared to when the show first opened in May,” he says. MORE INFORMATION: meijergardens.org
DETROITDESIGNMAG.COM | Fall 2026
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