After 5: 'Glass in the Garden'

The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis has secured the works of internationally renowned blown-glass artist Dale Chihuly. His stunning exhibit of 50 glass installations comprising hundreds of pieces of blown glass is on display through Oct. 31.

The exhibit, valued at more than $10 million, was uniquely designed for the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Visions of glass are everywhere: inside the Climatron dome, beautifully displayed on the grounds and floating on the pools of the Botanical Garden.

Chihuly’s glass treasures are perfectly complementary to the gorgeous backdrop of the garden.

“I think it was an act of sheer genius to bring two such synergies together – the lush and organic Missouri Botanical Garden and the natural organic flow of blown glass,” says Terry Bloodworth, a blown-glass artist and owner of Springfield Hot Glass Studio, at 314 S. Campbell Ave.

“Dale Chihuly is the most important glass artist in modern times,” Bloodworth adds. “He has put blown glass on the national map and exposed it to a much wider audience. He brings two new items to the table: the monumental scale of his works and the lovely organic form. Both are very important to the art of glass.”

There is discussion of extending the exhibit through the end of the year. Check the Web site, www.mobot.org, for updates.

When You Go …

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located just south of Interstate 44, two blocks east of the Vandeventer-Kingshighway exit. Limited free parking is available at the Garden and its auxiliary lots two blocks west at the Shaw-Vandeventer intersection.

• “Glass in the Garden” Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily

• Admission: Varies; check rates at www.mobot.org.

• Tips: To avoid crowds, visit in the morning and choose a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Arrive one hour prior to your ticket’s timed admission to allow time to park, enter and walk to the Climatron. Afterward, authentic Italian cuisine is just minutes west of the garden in The Hill, St. Louis’ historic Italian neighborhood. There’s a slew of restaurants to choose from, many family- owned, and not a bad one in the bunch.

• Chihuly Nights. For a special look at lit glass pieces, the garden is open 6–10 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is $15.

A closer look

• Chihuly’s work is displayed in more than 200 museums worldwide; view more online at www.chihuly.com.

• Springfield Hot Glass offers glass-blowing demonstrations on Tuesdays and Thursdays; For more information, call (417) 868-8181.