A few years ago, while we lived in Nashville, we went to an exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s work when it was at The Frist Museum. It was a wonderful show and we really enjoyed looking at the colors and the shapes of the blown glass pieces. At the same time, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, also in Nashville, was featuring a night time exhibit of additional works, but as luck would have it, we never made it out there. When I went to Atlanta last month, I learned that the Atlanta Botanical Garden was featuring a night time exhibit and I made sure I did not miss it again!
Using my camera, I took pictures as we walked around the garden and how I wished I could have used my tripod to get better shots! The glass works are pretty amazing in daylight but once the sun sets, the lights used in the displays give the glass a completely different appearance. For one, the colors glow.
If you have ever visited ABG, you are familiar with the raised walkway that takes you high above the gardens. In this area, the view was almost magical.
These white glass pieces almost look like balloons or torpedoes. Because I was using my camera hand-held, it was hard to really get all of the details.
This looked like a giant succulent from above and below, it looked as if it was alive.
The reflection pool really captured the movement of the glass tubes.
While I could see the tiny blue lights up close, they got lost in the distance. The entire area glowed orange, as if a campfire was nearby.
This was one of the exhibits that the camera just couldn’t handle. Called a Fiori Boat, the large structure in the top pool was floating on the surface of the water with the large glass orbs, known as Niijima Floats. In the background is the Earth Goddes Sculpture whose hand forms a waterfall.
Covered in moss and surrounded by water, she was an amazing sight in the dark.
Water lends itself well to the glass and many of the exhibits were in a water setting. To really see the difference in the photos from the camera and my cell phone, compare this shot to the next one.
It would have taken me a lot of time to catch this look with the camera.
Looks like icicles to me.
As we prepared to leave, a final sculpture greeted us near the gift shop. They look like blossoms to me! Truly art imitating life-garden life to be specific. Do yourself a favor, while you can visit during the day, buy a ticket to the show and go after dark. The show closes at the end of the month, hurry, don’t miss it!
will garden for cake 