Tackiest Garden Ornament Ever!

[ogecko]

This gets my vote for the tackiest garden ornament of all time. It’s actually supposed to be “art,” but I find it to be tasteless and disruptive. The artist (Dale Chichuly) states: “My forms are made in a very natural way so they look like they come from nature,” which I find difficult to believe. The good news is that in summer it’s less obscene because there’s more vegetation in the garden and it doesn’t stand out quite as much!

For anyone who would like to view this monstrosity in person, it may be found in the National Garden adjacent to the USBG Conservatory on The Mall in Washington D.C.. The National Garden is pleasant if unspectacular and rather boring, but it doesn’t deserve the ‘Sunset Boat’!

 

[gore42]

Imagine how much fun it would be with a slingshot and a pile of rocks, though. Maybe a neighborhood kid will get the idea....

- Matt

 

[Grandma M]

UGH. How ugly. I guess I don't appreciate that kind of art. To each his own.

 

[Marco]

i dont think its ugly...i just think its really out of place....

 

[kentuckiense]

I think a lot of Chihuly's botanic garden work is fantastic... But this? Setting it all in a boat?

 

[Jon in SW Ohio]

I gotta admit, I'm a HUGE Chihuly fan...but this I'm not so fond of. Here's a better example of what his work is like:

Jon

 

[Heather]

I too like Chihuly, but not this one.

Love that second one in your post, Jon.

 

[DukeBoxer]

Is he the guy that made that HUGE thing in the middle of Mohegan Sun Casino? Anyone???

 

[SlipperFan]

Chihuly is a world-reknown artist who's media is blown glass. He is known for "pushing the envelope" for what is possible in this media. Whether one's personal taste concurs with his works or not, if one understands his media and sees what he can accomplish with it, one can appreciate his artistry.

I do not believe "art is in the eye of the beholder." Art is art, what is in the eye of the beholder is appreciation and understanding, or the lack of it.

 

[ohio-guy]

I think his works cost tens of thousands of dollars as well....I bet the boat display could sell for $100,000.00 if it were for sale.
But I agree with Jon, it is not one of the best he has done.

 

[Rick]

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't the biggest thing in the whole pond. It really overpowers the live plantings.

 

[Jon in SW Ohio]

Some more, and yes his pieces go for BIG money:

Jon

 

[gore42]

I used to live just a couple of miles away from the Pilchuck studio/school up in WA. As a result, we were constantly bombarded with Chihuly stuff in the local newspapers and galleries (even the Everett Navy base, Sea-Tac airport, etc display pieces of his work all over). There is no doubt that the guy is a master. I quite like a lot of his work. That doesn't mean that everything he does is masterful, or even good. Even Beethoven wrote some really awful music.

That said, I think that it's quite possible to understand the artistry, skill, and talent of an artist of any sort, and still not like their work.

- Matt

 

[Ron-NY]

Is he the guy that made that HUGE thing in the middle of Mohegan Sun Casino? Anyone???

I believe the blue and white sculpture there is his

 

[rdlsreno]

I like it!!!

Ramon

 

[smartie2000]

I definitely like his other works better when compared to the boat. The boat just looks awkward

 

[Heather]

Yes, Ron, I think so. Also has quite a bit at Bellagio in Las Vegas if I remember correctly.

 

[NYEric]

I do not believe "art is in the eye of the beholder." Art is art, what is in the eye of the beholder is appreciation and understanding, or the lack of it.

Oh no, here we go again.

 

[Hien]

He is quite famous. I seen a documentary about his work on PBS.
They looks a lot better than zillions other modern art stuff (which I have a suspicion that those artists can not really draw or paint like the old masters).
Some of his work do look very nice (sorry for my common person art language)
I just hope nobody trip & fall on those sharp & pointed glass reeds.

 

[Mark]

That doesn't mean that everything he does is masterful, or even good. Even Beethoven wrote some really awful music.

That said, I think that it's quite possible to understand the artistry, skill, and talent of an artist of any sort, and still not like their work.

I agree. Our big basketball/hockey/concert building features a work similar to the boat, but it's the same conglomeration of forms all along the wall over the entrance doors. Decorative in its own ugly way but the colors are going to look dated very quickly. I believe he's an alum of the glass program here and probably part of the reason it's so popular and hard to get into.

It was, however, surpassed as the ugliest art on campus by this load of crap.