Glass in the Dale Chihuly Alcove at Seattle's Washington Athletic Club. Sue Frause photo.
Related Articles on Seattle by Sue Frause
The owners of the Space Needle, located at Seattle Center (home to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962), have unveiled plans to bring a new "art experience" to Seattle Center.
The Wright family's proposed Chihuly at the Needle (working title) is an homage to Pacific Northwest glass artist Dale Chihuly. It will be located on the south portion of the Fun Forest, which is scheduled for demolition.
The 30,000 square ft. site that currently is the home to such Fun Forest rides as a merry-go-round, bumper cars and duck boats will be transformed into an experience "unparalleled anywhere in the world."
In addition to showcasing the artwork of Tacoma, Washington native Chihuly, the exhibition space will include a collection of glass, sculpture and other media. It will also serve as an educational venue for children, families and visitors.
Dale Chihuly's work is featured around the world, including Tacoma's Museum of Glass where you'll find his Bridge of Glass, a 500-foot-long pedestrian overpass that links the museum to the downtown area and its developing cultural corridor. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art currently houses the most extensive collection of Chihuly glass, including a 55-ft. glass tower in the atrium.
Here are the key elements of Chihuly at the Needle:
- Interior Exhibit Space: Approximately 12,500 sq. ft. of Chihuly's artwork
- Art Garden: Approximately 19,000 sq. ft., with an exterior plaza of 4,800 sq. ft.
- Glass House: Approximately 3,800 sq.ft. glass house structure reaching approximately 40 ft. and featuring a cascade of Chihuly artwork flowing from the ceiling
- Café/Retail space: Approximately 4,050 sq. ft.
Although Chihuly at the Needle has acquired 350+ Facebook fans, not everybody is supporting this paid-admission addition to the Seattle Center. Read more about the controversial project in The Seattle Times.
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