'Chandelier' by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly to be revealed at New Bedford Art Museum

NEW BEDFORD — A very special, and illuminating, work of art will soon be revealed at the New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant St.

The museum has announced that it will be revealing a major work by storied American glass artist Dale Chihuly.

A glass "chandelier" sculpture called "Luminous Silver" will be illuminated and installed at the museum. It will be the first major art work to be permanently installed at the museum and available for viewing on the SouthCoast, the museum said in a press release.

There will be a "Chihuly Celebration" to mark the occasion, with a series of events from April 24-26.

The celebration has been organized in partnership with the Sandwich Glass Museum, the New Bedford Museum of Glass, and the Rhode Island School of Design Glass Department.

Celebration events include:

• An exhibit called "Pathfinders: Paving the Glass Revolution in the U.S." The exhibit chronicles the early days in the "revolution" and traces the development of the art glass movement up until the present moment.

• A documentary film, "Master of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly," with an introduction by Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery.

• A gala reception at the Harbor Hotel, followed by a lighted stroll to the art museum, where the chandelier will be revealed and illuminated.

• Performances, thematically tied to the Chihuly sculpture, by Ballet RI and New Bedford Symphony Ensemble.

• An art talk by Britt Cornett, director, exhibitions, Chihuly Studio.

"The Sandwich Glass Museum is thrilled to partner with the New Bedford Art Museum on this significant exhibition, which furthers the awareness of glass as an important art form and celebrates the artists whose works have helped the Contemporary Studio Glass movement evolve,” Sandwich Glass Museum Executive Director Mary Childs said in the press release.

Childs co-curated the exhibition along with Suzanne de Vegh, executive director of the New Bedford Art Museum.

"I was deeply inspired by the gift of 'Luminous Silver' to the art museum and felt compelled to organize an exhibition in partnership with local esteemed colleagues, experts in the world of glass, to tell the story of Chihuly'smonumental role in the creation of the glass art movement in the U.S. and to shine a light on the innovative contemporary work being produced now, made possible by that revolution," de Vegh said of the 'Pathfinders' exhibition. "The timing of the exhibition could not be more perfect as the acquisition of 'Luminous Silver' heralds the art museum's new identity as a venue to experience world-class contemporary art."

"'Astonishment' is the perfect word to characterize much of Dale Chihuly’s work," Kirk Nelson, executive director of the New Bedford Museum of Glass said in the press release. "Its bold color, its scale, its often familiar but fantastically alien forms; his glass evokes a sense of wonder that catches you by surprise. The New Bedford Art Museum has assembled an extraordinary exhibition of contemporary glass art by Chihuly and many other artists, to be punctuated by the unveiling of the museum’s spectacular and recently acquired Chihuly 'chandelier' sculpture. Visitors to the exhibition, prepare to be astonished!"

For a full schedule of events, and to learn more and reserve tickets, visit newbedfordart.org/reveal-tickets.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Chihuly 'Luminous Silver' 'chandelier' at New Bedford Art Museum