The Dale Chihuly Sculpture "Fiori Di Como" at the Bellagio in Las Vegas

Whether you go every year, or you're a first-time visitor, the Dale Chihuly ceiling sculpture at the Bellagio is one Las Vegas attraction that never loses its magic. Here are some facts about the sculpture and about Dale Chihuly himself.

The Sculpture

Dale Chihuly's ceiling sculpture at the Bellagio, "Fiori di Como," literally means "flowers of Como." Como is a lake in Italy, and the beautiful flowers there inspired Chihuly's piece.

At 70 feet by 30 feet by 12 feet, "Fiori di Como" is the largest glass sculpture ever made. Walking into the lobby of the Bellagio and seeing the Chihuly sculpture suspended from the ceiling is truly an awe-inspiring experience. Because "Fiori di Como" is so large, pictures don't really prepare you for its size or impact.

All together, there are 2,000 individual blown-glass flowers that make up the sculpture. The weight of "Fiori di Como" is also staggering. The glass flowers weigh 40,000 pounds, and the steel structure holding it all in place weighs another 10,000 pounds.

The Making of "Fiori di Como"

The Bellagio ceiling sculpture took two years and 100 people to make, and it was completed in 1998. "Fiori di Como" was commissioned by Bellagio owner Steve Wynn, who wanted something in the lobby on par with the massive aquarium at the Mirage hotel. Wynn's intuition was right. Between the Chihuly's ceiling sculpture, the botanical gardens, and the musical fountain shows, the Bellagio is considered one of the most (if not the most) beautiful hotel in Las Vegas.

Since Dale Chihuly lost sight in one eye and sustained a shoulder injury in the 1970s, he has relied on a team of artisans to complete his sculptures. This collaborative approach has made it possible to work on a huge scale and do installations all over the world.

Dale Chihuly's Other Work

As an artist who has been working for over 40 years, Dale Chihuly has made installations and shown his other glass work all over the world. Chihuly is often given credit for elevating glass blowing from being considered a craft to being considered a fine art.

"Bridge of Glass" is another of Dale Chihuly's large public works. It is a 500 foot bridge that connects Tacoma, Washington's downtown to the waterfront. It includes a ceiling sculpture similar to the Bellagio's "Fiori di Como." Tacoma's Union Station also features a ceiling sculpture in the shape of a blue chandelier.

While it would be impossible to list every piece that Chihuly has ever made, if you want to see his work, it is currently on display at the Flint Institute of Art in Flint, Michigan, and at the Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy. He also has many temporary installations in botanical gardens across the United States, including Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory and the New York Botanical Garden.

Sources:

Dale Chihuly's website: http://www.chihuly.com/index.html

Bellagio website: http://www.bellagio.com/amenities/lobby.aspx

From Glass on Web: http://www.glassonweb.com/articles/article/298/

Biography of Dale Chihuly: http://www.chihuly.com/essays/news_currentbiography.html