March 14, 2017 Chihuly-Dali

Hi everyone.
We traveled a different road today and ended up in St Petersburg where there are 2 museums that caught our eye.
The first one was the Chihuly Collection that featured some of the larger in size blown glass works.
Dale Chihuly was introduced to glass art while studying interior design at the University of Washington.  He later went to the University of Wisconsin and then the Rhode Island School of Design where he established a glass program and taught for more than a decade.

The Carnival Chandelier

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The Azul de Medianiche Chandelier

Sunset Persian Wall

Float Boat

Ruby Red Icicle

Blue Neon Tumbleweed

Milli Fiori

Milli and Grammie

We went across the street to the Hot Shop where there was a demonstration on glassblowing.

Preparing the chemicals to color the glass.

This smaller oven is used to keep the working piece of glass above 900 degrees.  If it isn't, it will cool too much and crack the glass. 

Using a metal tool to help reshape the bowl.

Cleaning the surfave of impurities.

Heating the stem to keep it above 900.

Using metal tools to reshape the molten glass.

Hand twirling the thin molten glass on top to add a flared look.

The finished product ready for slow cooling.

For those interested, individual lessons are available.

Next we went over to the Salvadore Dali Museum

The First Days of Spring 1929

Enchanted Beach with Three Fluid Graces 1938

The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus  1959

The Ecumenical Council  1960

For those back home, just wanted to let you know that it was windy here today also.

On the way back we stopped for a couple of pictures of Wind Surfers

Thanks for looking out for Grammie.