The Art World Works From Home: Glass-Art Impresario Dale Chihuly Is Stuck Working on Drawings and Rewatching ‘The Sopranos’

by admin

Apr 22, 2020

artnet

Dale Chihuly is best known for his monumental, gravity-defying
glass sculptures that rise over green lawns and suspend from high
ceilings around the globe. Before his hometown of Seattle—an early
hub for the virus in the United States—shut down, he was busily
preparing for a major exhibition of his new, lace-inspired
“Merletto” series at Seattle’s Traver Gallery (which has now been
postponed to June) and a display of outdoor installations
at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens in Nashville (which has been
rescheduled for July).

For now, while his hot shop is closed, the artist is working on
smaller, two-dimensional objects, catching up on TV, and
corresponding with friends from his Seattle home. Read on for a
glimpse of his day-to-day life.

Where is your new “office”?

I’m currently working from my home office.

Dale Chihuly's home office. Photo courtesy of Dale Chihuly.

Dale Chihuly’s home office. Photo
courtesy of Dale Chihuly. ©Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved.

What are you working on right now (and were any projects
interrupted by the lockdown)?

I’m working on an exhibition called “Chihuly Merletto” for
Traver Gallery in Seattle. The exhibition opens in June. There were
some projects that were interrupted, but I continue doing what I
can from home.

How has your work changed now that you are doing it from
home?

My hot shop is closed, so glassblowing isn’t happening right
now. I’m using this time to focus on two-dimensional works.

What are you reading, both online and off?

I’m reading a book called The Immortal Irishman: The Irish
Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero by Timothy
Egan, and the New York Times.

Have you visited any good virtual exhibitions
recently?

The Groninger Museum in the Netherlands is
doing some good work showing exhibitions online. There’s also
a great video from
David Hockney’s exhibition at Annely Juda Fine Art.

Have you taken up any new hobbies?

Collecting correspondence from friends.

What is the first place you want to travel to once this
is over?

Venice, Italy.

If you are feeling stuck while self-isolating, what’s
your best method for getting un-stuck?

Watching movies.

What was the last TV show, movie, or YouTube video you
watched?

The Wife, with Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce, directed
by Björn Runge. I’m also re-watching The Sopranos.

Vincent van Gogh, <i>Cypresses</i> (1889). Photo: the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Vincent van Gogh, Cypresses
(1889). Photo: the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

If you could have one famous work of art with you, what
would it be?

Van Gogh’s Cypresses (1889), which is on display at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What are you most looking forward to doing once social
distancing has been lifted?

I look forward to having lunch with my wife, Leslie, and friends
at Il Terrazzo Carmine. It’s my favorite restaurant in Seattle, and
we’ve been going there for years.

Favorite recipe to cook at home?

Spaghetti alle vongole.

For inspiration, we’re sharing a recipe for this classic
Italian pasta dish adapted from Bon Appétit:

Salt Spaghetti for 2 Olive oil 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 1 tsp.
red pepper flakes 1/4 cup dry, white wine 2 pounds small clams
Chopped parsley

Bring water to a boil and cook spaghetti until very al
dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
Over medium, heat 3 tbsp. oil in a large skillet and add garlic
and cook until beginning to brown. Add red pepper flakes and wine,
followed by clams and then increase the heat to high.
Cover your skillet until clams open and release their juices,
about 3-6 minutes. As they open, use tongs to transfer them to a
large bowl.
Add 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to skillet and bring up
to a boil, returning pasta to pan. Cook over high heat, tossing
constantly, until pasta is cooked and has soaked up some of the
sauce.
Bring back the clams along with parsley, and toss to
combine.