CHIHULY CONNECTION MEET ANDY SCHLAUCH
Photo by Flourish Photography
When Andy and more. We Schlauch, director have a lot going of The Chihuly on in all of our Collection here in facilities.” St. Pete, embarked Schlauch on a community used to work outreach program, for Chihuly in he found a Seattle. Three willing partner years after the at The Vinoy® exhibit opened Renaissance St. in St. PetersPetersburg Resort burg, they & Golf Club. The wanted somespectacular glass one to drive chandelier in the programming, ballroom and introduce other the Persian set in artists’ travelAndy Schlauch, the hotel lobby ing exhibitions Director of The Chihuly Collection astound guests and give people who ask questions, take photos, more reasons to come back. and seek more information about “They asked me if I wanted the talented glass artist. The to relocate and it sounded only other hotels that have Dale interesting. That was seven years Chihuly’s work on display are the ago. I truly love St. Pete and Bellagio in Las Vegas, The Claridge working with the local artists,” said in London, and The Ritz Carlton in Schlauch. “The funny small world Singapore. of it is that the pieces displayed How did Chihuly choose St. at The Vinoy are commissions I Petersburg? Schlauch says a worked on with Dale. I never got Florida traveling exhibit came to to see the final installation until I this city after a show in Orlando. came here for the job interview. The success and lasting impact on The hotel management would the community inspired Morean send me interior design boards Arts Center to make Chihuly’s work with colors and fabrics planned for accessible to a larger audience. “It the renovation. Dale and I found is actually a living endowment and some things in his archives which helps to support the 100-year-old we presented, but Dale added institution that teaches art through elements to better fit the scale of summer camps, evening programs the enormous lobby.” for kids, adult art classes and even The Chihuly Collection’s a personal glass experience,” says accessibility initiatives include Schlauch. “Attendees get a halfworking with high school age hour of instruction and come out students who have limited vision making their own ornaments, or are blind. “We had some glass beverage glasses, paper weights, shapes and forms that were not 14
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