Fireworks of Glass

Fireworks of Glass is the largest permanent sculpture of blown glass by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The 43-foot-tall tower rises above a glass ceiling.

The Tower

The Fireworks of Glass tower stands in the museum’s central atrium, where children and families can circle the ramps and explore it from all sides. Chihuly's artists blew and installed 3,200 pieces of glass on the tower. It comprises more than 3,200 individually blown, brilliantly colored, two- to four-foot-long pieces of smooth and twisted glass called Horns and Goosenecks.

The Ceiling

The Fireworks of Glass ceiling floats just under the tower. It is filled with 1,600 pieces of glass from Chihuly’s spectacular series, including Sea Tubes, Hornballs, Persians, and Putti in a variety of shapes and colors.

On the museum’s Lower Level children and families can look up and see the brilliantly colored glass forms in the ceiling.

Children and adults can also sit on a large, round, revolving platform, gaze at the ceiling overhead and discuss what they see.

Families can also create their own sculptures with colorful plastic-like shapes call polyvitro; and blow glass or explore the hot shop and the glassblowing process virtually.

Hands-On Exhibit

Below the ceiling is a hands-on exhibit area. Here, children and adults can sit on a large, round, revolving platform, gaze at the ceiling overhead and discuss what they see. Families can also create their own sculptures with colorful plastic-like shapes called polyvitro and blow glass virtually or explore the hot shop and the glassblowing process on two computer screens.

About Dale Chihuly

Chihuly began blowing glass as a student in the early 1960s. Since then he has become more of a planner and visionary in the glass industry, as opposed to a craftsman. By focusing more on the big picture and less on the intricate details of physical glassblowing, Chihuly has created different themes in his artwork. His pieces have taken on forms found in everyday objects and nature.