Installing Ma Chihuly's Floats

Ma Chihuly's Floats was installed in honor of Dale Chihuly's mother, Viola in 2006. The installation features thirty nine glass orbs from Chihuly's Niijima Float series. It is the first such installation ever placed over stone.

Chihuly was inspired to create the Niijima Floats series after visiting friends in Niijima, an island in Tokyo Bay, Japan. These floats are reminiscent of traditional Japanese fishing floats and are among the largest free-blown forms ever created. He began the series in 1991, experimenting by using glass made from Niijima's beach sand. The floats were installed along the island's coast, many of which were sent out to sea. To this day, millions of traditional fishing floats still drift in the Pacific trade currents.

The floats rest on Richard Rhodes' untitled stone wave sculpture. Reflected in the mirrored glass, the floats seem to multiply and drift into infinity. The installation is put into winter storage every year, making them a seasonal favorite for museum visitors.

Visit www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

Special thanks to Ryan Ceresola and Ashlee Parnell of Media Lab at Pacific Lutheran University.

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Tags:

• tacomaartmuseum
• chihuly
• glass
• museum
• art
• tacoma
• downtown
• install
• floats
• niijima
• demonstration

[pkwstl]

great video!

[ccreeco]

ya cool video but where is ryan ceresola

[Krimpets]

Love the music!