May and June will be busy months at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum. Beginning May 25, Chihuly at Cheekwood will run through October 31. Visitors will be transported by Chihuly’s magnificent glass forms, which will include a 30-foot-tall neon sculpture located in the Herb Garden, a Sun composed of a 15-foot-tall yellow radiant orb, a mille fiori glass garden in the reflection pool, as well as chandelier installations housed in the museum and a 20-foot-long boat designed specifically for the location.
To celebrate the illuminated glassworks, Cheekwood will extend its hours for the duration of the exhibit. The gardens will remain open on Thursday and Friday evenings until 10 p.m. from May 27 through August and until 9 p.m. in September and October. Cheekwood Vice President for Collections and Programs, Allison Reid, exclaims, “We’re delighted to present the work of Dale Chihuly throughout the botanical garden and the Museum of Art. Visitors will witness a show in which thousands of his hand-blown glass elements and Cheekwood’s landscape will stretch their imaginations and offer a new way of experiencing plants and art.”
Throughout the year, Cheekwood has celebrated its 50th anniversary with various delights for art enthusiasts. May is no exception. While enjoying Chihuly glassworks, visitors will have the opportunity to encounter an interesting relic of our nation’s history. Cheekwood will display the treasured Jefferson Goblet which is currently on loan to the museum in its Silver Library. This goblet was commissioned by Jefferson in Paris during his final months in the capitol in 1789—the year of the French Revolution. A favorite among the Jefferson household at Monticello, the goblet will provide an interesting piece of history to be savored by guests of all ages. For more information visit www.cheekwood.org or call 615-356-8000.
