At once organic and otherworldly, pure and complicated, Dale Chihuly's glass works brilliantly combine the simplicity of the medium with the extraordinary innovation of the artist. From Chihuly's studio in Seattle to installation sites throughout San Francisco, CHIHULY FIRE & LIGHT observes the artist at work with his team as he conceives and creates his most ambitious exhibition to date, Chihuly at the de Young. This 2008 exhibition included 11 galleries of new and archival works representing the breadth and scope of the artist's creative vision during the last four decades. From the Mille Fiori (a 56-foot garden of glass) to the Saffron Tower (a 30-foot neon sculpture), Chihuly's exquisite sculptures challenge convention with bold color, dramatic forms and extraordinary composition. In addition to interviews with architect Frank Gehry and other artists, art critics and museum executives, the film highlights the collaborative qualities of Chihuly's creative process, in which he entrusts hundreds of talented glassblowers to execute his vision.
