CHIHULY IN SEATTLE

If you've never been to Seattle, chances are you never heard of Chihuly.  

• Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma, Washington, and is an 83-year old glass sculpture artist.  In 1962, he dropped out of the University of Washington to study art in Florence, Italy.
• Went back to UDub in 1965 for a BA in interior design.
• Experimented in glassblowing, studying in 1966 under Harvey Littleton at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who established the first glass program in the U.S.
• Earning a Master of Science in sculpture, he enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design, gaining a second masters degree.
• On a grant, went to Murano in Venice to learn more about glass-blowing.
• Came back to the U.S. to practice glass works.
• Helped found the Pilchuck Glass School in 1971.
• 
  In 1976, was involved in a head-on car accident in England, which propelled him through the windshield and blinded his left eye.
• In 1979 dislocated his right shoulder while bodysurfing.

• 
  Was successful in his glass works, and donated a large portion to the University of Wisconsin, since 1997 on permanent display in the Kohl Center.
• The Seattle Space Needle Corporation convinced Chihuly to exhibit his works at the site in 2010.

• 
  Wisconsin awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 2013.
• Pieces of Chihuly's works can be found all over the world (400 locations), including two Las Vegas casinos, the Bellagio and on the Strip.  His Bellagio piece, title Fiori di Como, holds the Guinness record for the largest glass sculpture in the world.

Chihuly Garden and Glass opened in May 2012.  It partners with Seattle Public Schools to invite elementary school students to visit and take part in hands-on classes.  17,300 students have participated in this free program.

From the Sheraton Grand to the Monorail Station is a two-block walk.  Large blocks.  The Westin is closer.  The Monorail takes you from downtown Seattle, directly to the Space Needle, no other stops.  Costs around $3.50 for the round trip.

Alexander Liberman's Olympic Iliad was installed in 1984 on the grounds of the Space Needle.

It is a short walk from the Monorail station to the Chihuly Museum.

The senior cost of entrance was $37/each.  The glass works were incredible, awesome...

The museum is at the foot of the Space Needle.

Got back to town, and we went searching for a place to buy some beer and scotch, for our executive club charges for alcoholic drinks.  Found some at H Mart and Target.  Decided to go Mexican, and bought a giant burrito and a combination bowl for consumption in our hotel room.

That burrito must have weighed 5 pounds.  Watched the Dodgers beat the Padres.  San Diego must be in shock, for they were ahead 2 games to one, and had to only win one more for this 5-game series.  They did not score a run in the final 24 innings.  Dodgers against the Mets on Sunday.  Yankees will play the Tigers or Guardians on Monday.

I must have been paying my monthly Netflix bill for a dozen years.  First time I tried linking to it on the road.  Worked, and saw two somewhat similar intrigue/spy films I did not know existed.

• Safe House, a 2012 movie with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.  Thought it was a fine production, but Rotten Tomatoes only gave it 53/63 ratings.
• Spy Game, a 2001 movie with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt.  Okay, but Rotten Tomatoes scores of only 64/75.

Breakfast this morning.

Tomorrow, more rest than anything else.  My pedometer so far has showed that I walked 5724 steps from Honolulu to Seattle on Wednesday, 3922 on our Pike's Market foray on Thursday, and 8512 on Friday.

-