Chihuly Glass Art On Display In Remsenburg Home

A special collection from renowned artist Dale Chihuly is making itself at home on the South Fork this summer, quite literally.

Mr. Chihuly, who currently has an exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden, is a renowned artist who is best known for his striking works of blown glass. Examples of his Fiori, Ikebana and Chandelier styles will be on display at a private Remsenburg residence on Sunday, August 20.

The collection belongs to Arthur Wiener, the founder of the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in Dania Beach, Florida. The museum, which was founded about 4 years ago by Mr. Wiener and his family, was created as a place to inspire appreciation and understanding of ceramics and glass as artwork.

Mr. Wiener’s Chihuly art is a permanent fixture of his Remsenburg home, though Sunday’s event, Chihuly & Champagne, which will benefit WMODA, is the first time he’s welcoming the public to view the collection.

A familiar face on the East End art scene, Rick Friedman, the founder of ArtHamptons and Hamptons Contemporary, will be the night’s guest of honor.

Mr. Wiener first became interested in collecting and exploring ceramic and glass works of art in 2009, and soon after he discovered Mr. Chihuly’s work. “Once he discovers something that’s interesting to him, he gets very passionate about it,” said Louise Irvine, the WMODA curator and director. “He’s a huge fan of Chihuly; he has an amazing collection.”

The focal point of the collection is a grand Chihuly Chandelier, which hangs from the ceiling between the home’s first and second floors. Mr. Chihuly made his very first chandelier-style work in 1990 and continued his work throughout the decade by creating a series of chandeliers for a major installation called “Chihuly Over Venice.” The particular piece in Mr. Wiener’s home originally hung at Lismore Castle in Ireland.

Ms. Irvine notes that “Chandelier” is a misnomer when it comes to the artwork. “They’re not obviously light sources. There’s no light coming from the actual glass sculpture,” she said. “He really worked from the idea of the interplay between light going through the translucency and so on, that is what his focus is with these major glass sculptures.”

At the event, Ms. Irvine will introduce the collection, and guide the visitors through the art.

Upon walking in the front door, visitors will be greeted by a unique piece of art from the Fiori style. The standing orange glass stalk and stem sculpture represents a combination of the natural world and the man-made glass world, Ms. Irvine said.

As visitors make their way upstairs, they will find themselves in Mr. Wiener’s Chihuly garden. This space is lined with pieces from the Ikebana and Venetian forms. Ikebana, which Ms. Irvine said is one of Mr. Chihuly’s specialties, includes monumental vases of giant flowers. Venetian forms are inspired by Italian Art Deco glass of the 1930s. To create the pieces, Mr. Chihuly collaborated with Murano maestro Lino Tagliapietra, as well as Pino Signoretto, the acclaimed glass sculptor. Mr. Signoretto added Baroque-style putti—winged children like cherubs—plus dolphins and other sea creatures from the lagoons of Venice to create the style.

Macchia works, which Chihuly developed in 1981 with his gaffer William Morris, are a staple in the collection. The name Macchia was derived from the Italian for stain, smear or spot. These sculptures were created using a unique process that allowed Mr. Chihuly to contrast the interior and exterior glass colors without blending them together.

“Like much of my work, the series inspired itself, “ Mr. Chihuly said in a statement. “The unbelievable combinations of color—that was the driving force.”

Pieces from the Persian style will be on display as well. This style is described as rhythmic designs in jewel-toned luminous glass. These pieces were often commissioned as table-toppers, wall displays or ceiling installations.

Ms. Irvine most anticipates the looks on visitors’ faces when seeing the art for the first time, and said Mr. Wiener hopes that by bringing the collection to the South Fork, it will spark the interest of locals attending, and introduce them both to the art of ceramic and glass as well as to the museum.

The tickets for this event are $50 and booked through WMODA. Advance reservations are required. The address will be provided upon purchasing tickets. Call 954-376-6690 or email Alicia Dorn at alicia@wmoda.com.