A rainy 4th of July set the perfect stage for viewing glass
fireworks inside the world's largest children's museum to celebrate
independence and the appreciation of art. World-renowned glass
artist Dale Chihuly and his team
outdid themselves with this sculpture that more than four stories
tall and provides a human kaleidoscope below with a rotating bench
looking up at the glass pergola ceiling.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 5, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fireworks represent the joy and pride of
America. The beautiful colors light up the night sky and bring joy
to millions across the country on the Fourth of July. But for a
truly magnificent indoor display of color on July 4th (or any other day of the year) -
experience Dale Chihuly's Fireworks of Glass at The Children's
Museum of Indianapolis.
The 43-foot glass tower is one of the
largest sculptures created by Dale
Chihuly... Featuring more than 3,200 stunning pieces of
blown glass, it rises above a glass pergola (made up of another
1,600 pieces of blown glass) and can be viewed from all sides up
four stories.
The breathtaking 43-foot glass tower is one of the largest
permanent sculptures created by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly and his team. It defies
expectations and delights visitors of all ages. Featuring more than
3,200 stunning pieces of blown glass, the tower rises above a glass
pergola ceiling (made up of another 1,600 pieces of blown glass)
and can be viewed from all sides up four full stories of the museum
up to the skylight. It is especially popular to become part of the
art. Below the glass pergola, sits a rotating bench waiting for
families to take a seat, lean back and look at the beautiful pieces
of glass as if they are a part of a giant, human kaleidoscope. As
if that isn't enough, families are also invited to use plastic
shapes or orbs that mirror the originals to create their own
towers. They can also blow glass virtually or explore glassblowing
on computers.
Families often engage in a game of seek-and-find, spotting the
various shapes and inspirations that Chihuly and his team
meticulously integrated into the towering beauty. Chihuly himself
expressed a deep personal connection to the project, envisioning it
as a legacy that would bring joy to children worldwide. "As a
parent and an artist," he shared during the sculpture's unveiling
in 2006, "I'm especially looking forward to leaving a legacy at The
Children's Museum."
Maintaining such a huge piece of artwork comes with unique
challenges and a delightful way of cleaning it. "Keeping the
pergola and the 'Fireworks of Glass' clean are sort of the ultimate
challenge," said Chris Carron,
director of collections, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. "Think about what it takes for
one vase in your home to keep that clean. Now multiply that by
1,600 pieces of glass in the pergola ceiling 3,200 pieces in the
tower and that's a lot to keep wiping down." Experts licensed by
Chihuly visit every six weeks to dust the tower portion using
Swiffers, while rappelling on ropes from the ceiling!
As the nation celebrated its independence, some also celebrated
the love of art by witnessing the unforgettable brilliance of
Chihuly's masterpiece, a fitting tribute to the spirit of
creativity and the enduring spirit of freedom.
Media Contact
Kimberly Harms, The Children's
Museum of Indianapolis,
317-334-4003, kimh@childrensmuseum.org,
www.childrensmuseum.org
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SOURCE The Children's Museum of Indianapolis