Martin Blank, Chihuly, and Waterford team member, Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Ireland, 1995. Photo by Russell Johnson.

We were supposed to make Chandeliers, and I had never blown glass like that ever before or even knew it was possible. . . . I started going into this one particular mold and it made the shape that looks like a frog’s foot, and Dale said, “Let’s keep going with that.” . . . So basically, for the two weeks or 10 days or however long we were there . . . that’s all we made.

—James Mongrain

Joan Monetta, Pam Gazale, and James Mongrain, Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Ireland, 1995. Photo by Russell Johnson.

“Dale laid down very specific rules for me when making the experimental parts at both Nuutajärvi and Waterford. There were to be no reheats.  He wanted to see how many pieces I could make in a short period of time. I blew 2,000 pounds of glass each day.”

—Martin Blank

Preparing to install Ponti Duodo e Barbarigo Chandelier, Venice, 1996. Photo by Russell Johnson.

Chihuly team members working on Neodymium Chandelier, Nuutajärvi, Finland, 1995. Photo by Russell Johnson.

Dale and the team developed the “quad pod,” a supportive metal structure for Chandeliers that is now nearly ubiquitous in his exhibitions. It would allow us to install the works without securing them to the sides of buildings and damaging the ancient stone walls. . . . It was a “pop-up,” as they say now—temporary, magical, spontaneous. Only those people passing through Venice in those several September weeks saw the works in situ. The rest would see it on PBS, as the documentary, Chihuly Over Venice.”  

—Leslie Jackson Chihuly, Chihuly Over Venice Project Director / CEO and President, Chihuly Studio 

John Power and Chihuly, Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Ireland, 1995. Photo by Terry Rishel.

Palazzo di Loredana Balboni Chandelier, 1996, 11 x 6', Venice. Photo by Terry Rishel.

Rick McNett and Chihuly, Vitrocrisa Factory, Monterrey, Mexico, 1996. Photo by Terry Rishel.

Dale Chihuly, Leslie Jackson, and team members, Venice, 1996. Photo by Russell Johnson.

Working with a team is good for me—new people, new ideas, new places. Chihuly Over Venice started out with the end in sight—the Chandeliers hanging over canals. But the people became more important—all the glassblowers and artisans from different countries working hand in hand with all the Americans. The hanging of the Chandeliers became secondary.

—Chihuly