Everyday Adventure // Chihuly at Denver Botanic Gardens

Sorry in advance for the less-than-stellar quality of these photos. They were taken with my phone in the (mostly) dark. But I thought this was too cool not to share.

Last year, Denver’s Botanic Gardens were invaded by the whimsical glass sculptures of artist Dale Chihuly. Exploring botanic gardens is one of my favorite things to begin with, but I love when two of my passions (art + the outdoors) can co-habitate so well together. I still have vivid memories of a summer at the Chicago Botanic Gardens when a sculpture artist installed these giant insect sculptures in different areas of the park. Chihuly’s exhibition far exceeded that one (for a few reasons, including the fact that except for maybe a ladybug, giant insects can be a little intimidating). It seemed like his sculptures sprung up organically amidst the ponds + plants, almost as if they were alive as well.

Nature is one of my biggest sources of artistic inspiration; the patterns + lines + colors are practically endless in their diversity. Seeing an artist actually bring that inspiration to fruition in such a dreamlike way was tremendously motivating for me, and it only became dreamier as the last beams of daylight disappeared behind the horizon. Never mind that I could hardly see the trails or that I was in heels from a dinner event I attended in the garden’s  (and heels on gravel are a nightmare). The risk was definitely worth the reward.

Have you discovered any new artists recently? Or visited your city’s botanic gardens? I’d love to hear about them – and then I may need to come visit!