HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DALE CHIHULY!

"I never met a color I didn't like." 

With statements like that, of course I'm a fan of Dale Chihuly's work.  Today, on his 75th birthday, I'm revisiting my photos from last month's trip to Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle.

Chihuly is such a prolific artist and craftsman, and walking through CGG was like wandering through the mind of Chihuly himself - from things he collected (like Pendleton blankets) to hundreds of blown-glass beauties, to a magnificent greenhouse (another of his infatuations).  The experience truly made me appreciate his work in a new way.

Here's hoping that Chihuly will continue to be as prolific and will keep pushing the boundaries of what can be done with glass through his 75th year and beyond.

Happy birthday, Dale!

Photos by myself and William Sealy.

THE SCREAM

The Scream, by the Norwegian Edvard Munch (1863-1944), is arguably one of the most recognizable images from art history, and the 1895 pastel is on view at the Museum of Modern Art.

 Since the pastel debuted at MOMA, it has become even more of a popular icon, with a steady stream of social media hype as well as a lengthy line to enter the gallery where it hangs.

The dark subject matter, symbolism, and macabre nature of the figures in his work have become ubiquitous with German Expressionism, a movement for which Munch was a forerunner.  The Scream is one of the greatest examples of this style.

In 2012, the 1895 pastel sold at auction for over $119 million, the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction.

At the Museum, it's nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of The Scream through iPhone-wielding arms.  How poignantly our smart phone culture has changed the museum experience, particularly when a cultural icon is in the room.

Blouse: Diane von Furstenberg (similar)

Skirt: Vintage, thrifted

Tights: H&M (similar)

Shoes: Hussein Chalayan

Necklace: Vintage, belonged to my mother

Photos by @kay_elle_pea in the Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Modern Art.

Munch images from moma.org