CHIHULY Red Reeds 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 Red Reeds at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park . . .

Dale Chihuly’s Red Reeds are striking, towering outdoor installations made of hundreds of hand-blown ruby-red glass elements which reach heights of up to 10 feet. 

Creation and Craftsmanship

Team Production: Because these slender glass shapes grow up to 10 feet tall, they require a specialized team where a glassblower on a mechanical lift gathers hot glass while others pull it from below. 
Finland Glasshouses: Many of the components were blown at the Nuutajärvi Glass Factory in Finland to utilize massive annealing ovens and unique ruby-red glass pigmented with neodymium. 

Notable Installations

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA): A prominent installation of over 100 red reeds sits in the Anne Cobb Gottwald reflecting pool as part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Lora Robins Sculpture Garden in Richmond, marking the first site-specific outdoor installation acquired permanently by an art museum. 
Chihuly Garden and Glass: Similar large configurations featuring clusters of over 80 individual reed forms are displayed prominently in Seattle. 
Traveling Exhibits: Temporary and seasonal placements frequently appear at major botanical settings and gardens, such as the New York Botanical Garden and Frederik Meijer Gardens. 

Interaction with Nature

Organic Integration: The vibrant red spires are typically paired with live water lilies, lotus, grasses, or logs to contrast starkly against natural greens and open water. 
Light Dynamics: The solid glass forms catch natural sunlight during the day and create dramatic reflections and shadows in surrounding pool water or garden mulch.

I really LOVE the deep red of this piece - especially since it is among the trees at Meijer Garden. CHIHULY Red Reeds is located in the Shade Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - they are quite beautiful and striking among the trees - and on a hot summer's day (there have been many of these lately) it tends to be at least ten degrees cooler in the Shade Garden, so resting on a bench and enjoying the cool shade AND Chihuly Red Reeds is a truly "refreshing" and wonderful experience! I think it will become even more interesting this Fall when the leaves change color - I am looking forward to Fall with Chihuly at Meijer Garden for sure!

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 Red Reeds absolutely will give you another reason you will be so glad you do!