Educational Media Reviews Online

In this documentary, director, Peter West, takes an intimate look into the world of artist, Dale Chihuly and the art of glass making. The film documents the events of the two year period leading up to the installation of a massive exhibition of Chihuly’s work in the de Young museum in San Francisco. West does a spectacular job of capturing the entire process from conception to execution, including a rare glimpse into the creative process of Chihuly himself in his studio. The film also weaves personal interviews with Chihuly, his contemporaries, as well as experts in the field, to tell the story of Chihuly’s life and work. The cinematography of this film is outstanding, providing viewers with a stunning and up close look at some of Chihuly’s most important works, including the Saffron Tower, Mille Fiori and Glass Forest. The DVD is divided into nine chapters: In The Chihuly Hot Shop; Glass Making; Spatial Planning For Museum Exhibit; Neon Forest Recreation; Navajo Blanket Series; Chihuly’s Baskets For de Young Exhibit; Installation At de Young Museum; Public Response To de Young Exhibit; Nature Of Chihuly’s Art. This documentary, which captures the beauty of glass works as well as the artistic process of Dale Chihuly, would make an excellent addition to any library, both public and academic.