This is a glass sculpture exhibit by Dale Chihuly, one of the most influential artists working in glass today. His sea forms and life-size purple reeds at the beginning of the exhibit give you the illusion that you are experiencing a taste of ocean life in Oklahoma.

Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Take a few steps further into the exhibition hall, and you happen upon a series of vibrant vases, made even more so by the carefully placed lights looming down from the ceiling. The darkness adds to the intensity of the exhibit. Turn another corner, and you are staring at a series of glass pastel ribbons that will remind you of that old fashioned Christmas candy that you ate straight from tin boxes. You will want to touch it!

Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Glass as fine art? Well, yeah. Art is what gives you pleasure as you gaze upon it. A lot of people are put off by the idea of visiting galleries and museums because they think they are intimidating or even too highbrow for their tastes. This exhibit is fun and accessible to all, including children. It is sure to entice those who are new to the art scene, as well as attract veteran visitors. My philosophy on appreciating art could be summed up by posing the following question: “Does it make you feel good? Then see more of it!”

You will enter a hallway to pass into the second half of the exhibit, and the ceiling of the hallway is lined with beautiful colored bowls. Um, can I get this for my house?!

Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Both children and adults (and quite possibly, yours truly) were seen spontaneously dropping to the floor so they could lie on their backs and gaze up at the ceiling. This is some of the best eye candy I have seen in a long time. The tickets should have come with a giant lollipop, and I mean that in the best possible way. This is art as an amusement park, and everyone was lapping it up.

Towards the end of the exhibit, the sense of whimsical magic continues. You are staring with your mouth gaping open at a boat that contains countless glass sculptures. It feels so sugary sweet, and Willy Wonka-ish, that you almost feel as though you are suffering from a sugar overdose. Yet your soul craves more sugar, evidence that you are becoming an addict. As you prepare to leave, part of you wonders what it would be like to just climb in the boat.

Dale Chihuly - Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Dale Chihuly – Oklahoma City Museum of Art

A surprising stop in Oklahoma City.

As always, our travels are indexed within our “Play” Journal from Stealth Journals. The sample entry page is pictured below:

Stealth Journals
Oklahoma: Indexed in our Play Journal, by Stealth Journals.