Chihuly Orange Hornet Chandelier at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

As I have been writing, if you are blessed to live in or near Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is where Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is located, then you know this is a place where there are so many beautiful and amazing things to see all year long, but this is even more true now through November 1st as the Dale Chihuly exhibit is able to be enjoyed throughout the Sculpture Park. I thought it would be interesting to share with you some information I found online about the beautiful sculptures and a bit of background on each piece - today I'm happy to give you a closer look at Chihuly Orange Hornet Chandelier at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park . . .

The Orange Hornet Chandelier by Dale Chihuly is a large, suspended sculpture made of hand-blown glass featuring bright orange and yellow colors, horn-like shapes with spiraling indents, and a total weight of over 1,200 pounds. 

Design and Structure

Elements: Composed of 384 individual hand-blown glass pieces (or thousands of tiny "horns" and tendrils in specific versions).
Shape: Spiky and dramatic, with elements ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet in length.
Inspiration: Inspired by the Mercato del Pesce di Rialto Chandelier created during the 1996 Chihuly Over Venice project.
Name Origin: The term "hornet" describes the horn-like glass shapes which feature distinct spiraling indentations reminiscent of an insect. 

Dimensions and Scale

Size: Measures roughly 9 feet tall.
Weight: Weighs just over 1,200 pounds.

Location

Permanent Home: A notable version resides permanently in the collection of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (installed in 2007).
Exhibitions: Featured dynamically in special rotating museum exhibitions, such as at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

I like the unique look and shades of orange and yellow in the Chihuly Orange Hornet Chandelier. I love the location on the Roof-top Sculpture Garden, but would be interested in seeing it actually suspended from a ceiling. 

If you live near Frederik Meijer Gardens, or are able to visit before November 1, 2026, be sure to check out the Chihuly exhibit - the Chihuly Orange Hornet Chandelier absolutely will give you another reason you will be so glad you do!