First time I saw a funny word "Chihuly" in a subway ad, I was intrigued as to what or who was it. Last week I actually saw Chihuly in action. Glass sculpture exhibition of Seattle based artist Dale Chihuly is on view at The NY Botanical garden. I'm not an expert in plants. However, I annually visit the Garden a couple times a year with my children because I consider it a "pretty park" with additional amusements for kids like "Adventure garden" or "Family Garden" . So Chihuly was not a main reason, but more an additional excuse for me to visit Botanical Garden. However I must admit I was really impressed by the exhibition. Being a fan of glass sculptures and ( surprise, surprise!) flowers and seeing one organically integrated in another was a big joy for my senses.

As I later learned, Chihuly specializes in site specific installations which are custom created around the world. He learned his craft at the Venini glass factory, so you can easily see Murano glass influence in his work. His inspiration comes from his mother's love for plants and fascination by architecture of glasshouses. The sculptures are spread around Botanical Garden(Rose Garden, Children Adventure Garden, Nelen Greenhouses), but most of them are concentrated in Conservatory.

Chihuly sculptures are eye-catching and fun at the same time. Since the exhibition is site specific, sculptures complement the environment where they are installed. For example "Ikebanas"( vases with flowers) in Conservatory almost undistinguished from real plants nearby, or "Reeds" in Conservatory courtyard seem like they belong there, growing from pebble ground( even though they are bright red). "Walla Wallas", onion shaped floating sculptures seem very natural among the water lilies in the pond.

My favorite arrangement though was probably the least bright and very plain installation in the woods of Children Adventure Garden. Glass green ferns growing in the shades of trees spread among huge roots of those trees. The composition gave me sense of tranquility and piece: dark, wild, quiet and secluded space in a chaotic and bright surroundings of colorful plants and children attractions. The most unusual piece of exhibition is "Chandelier" in Conservatory. Fusion of brightly colored balls hanging from the glass roof made that hall look like it's Christmas time. The ponds of courtyard in Conservatory consist of what most people would find most interesting and most beautiful creation of Chihuly at the Garden. There are boats with yellow spirals and green stems, there are above mentioned Walla Wallas that became trademark of Chihuly and many more to set your mood to unreasonably happy and to rediscover a kid inside of you. The bluish-purplish balls-and-tubes composition in Rose Garden might seem out of place, it's in disharmony with red and pink colors of rose garden. Nevertheless, exquisitely made and displayed in detached small field of white roses it seems very cute. Artist wanted to create a garden within a garden, a "glass garden" instead of glass inside of garden.

There are several other large sculptures mostly near the main entrance to the Garden that would please your eyes. Some of them have neon lights embedded inside and lighting show promises to be remarkable during Chihuly Nights in September and October.

On a more practical note, if you are like myself have small kids, be aware that Conservatory does not allow strollers. So if you have a speedy toddler like mine, you better have a leash :-), because there are way too many toy-like attractive sculptures that a kid would want to touch or climb on. Also, even though Botanical garden is huge, all Chihuly sculptures are located in walking distance from each other and instead of waiting in big lines for tram just walk and enjoy tasty smell and gorgeous view of surroundings. Garden has a picnic area, so you might want to bring lunch and have it Manet-style on a grass. For those of us who can't live without shopping, there is a gift shop with Chihuly art replicas, but they are quite pricey. And for those of us who like bargain, if you get in the garden before 12pm on Saturday, ground admission is free, but you would still need to buy additional ticket to Conservatory.

So go to the Garden till it's still warm and if for some unimaginable reason you can't make it till 10/29 when NY exhibition finishes, you still would have a chance to familiarize yourself with Chihuly's work at Marlborough gallery in Midtown,NY where his less grandiose and not very site specific art works are going to be displayed from September 14 till October 14.

URL: http://www.nybg.org/chihuly.php