Chihuly, but in Plastic!

April’s Exploring Artism took inspiration from Dale Chihuly and his “Chandelier” artworks in Connecticut. Participants looked at Chilhuly’s pieces and focused on his “Ode to Joy” at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford and “Blue and Beyond Blue” at the New Britain Museum of American Art.

After learning about Chihuly’s process and looking at details of his works, participants began to make their own “Chihuly Chandelier.” There was one major difference from Chihuly’s process– we made our artwork from plastic not glass!

Participants and family members colored disposable plastic bottles with permanent markers. Next, each person cut their colored bottle, some in swirl shapes and others in straight shapes.

We connected the bottles to a hole-punched, cardboard, paper towel roll with thin gauge craft wire.

After connecting all of our pieces together, we admired our work. The final piece will be on display in the Center’s Docent Room during opening week events.

The April 16 Exploring Artism session was the last session to be held at Chapel Haven. We want to send a big “Thank you” to Tina and the Chapel Haven community for hosting our program during the Center’s building conservation. Our next session of Exploring Artism will be Saturday, May 21 and we will meet at the Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel Street, Downtown New Haven. We can’t wait to see you there.