The Round Rock City Arts Center received a shipment last week of more than 200 handblown glass pieces packed into 30 boxes. The delivery also included two studio associates trained to assemble a 460-pound chandelier.
The sculpture, Ruby Sunstone Pineapple Chandelier, was designed for the arts center by renowned American glass artist Dale Chihuly. The installation officially opened to the public Wednesday.
“I am thrilled to share the Ruby Sunstone Pineapple Chandelier, a new installation, with Round Rock, a city that deeply values making art publicly accessible,” Chihuly said in a press release. “The vibrant colors and pineapple-inspired forms in the sculpture are a nod to the city’s identity and welcoming hospitality.”
The center will also feature a special three-month exhibit of Chihuly’s artwork. Christina Rudofsky, the arts manager for the city’s Arts and Culture Department, said the work supports the center’s goal of making art for everyone.
The chandelier is composed of more than 200 individually handblown glass elements and weighs around 460 pounds. It’s the first Chihuly installation on public view in the Austin area, according to the Round Rock City Arts Center.
“Having something like a Dale Chihuly piece is such a beacon for saying, ‘Come see us, come meet all the other people that are here, too, and keep coming here because we have hundreds of artists who live here,'” she said.
South Korean artist and Round Rock local Ziesook You also has work on display at the center. You’s large portraits depict her with collected wildflowers as elaborate adornment. She said she is inspired by the Brokpa community in the Himalayas, where people wear floral headdresses daily.
“A flower is a small object, but in Brokpa, the meaning of flower is huge,” You said. “It’s everything: happiness, life, love, thanks to God.”
Part of Ziesook You’s exhibit in the Round Rock City Arts Center embraces the four seasons with headdresses made up of different Texas wildflowers.
Although Chihuly and You work in different mediums and draw inspiration from different cultures, their artwork reflects the arts center’s mission of showcasing a wide range of voices and encouraging visitors to experience art from around the world.
“We have so many artists living here in Round Rock, and so much art to share, and so many events that we are excited to share,” Rudofsky said.
The arts center opened in January to provide gallery and event space for the city’s growing arts programming. Admission is free.