CHIHULY Float Boat at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

I have been writing about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park which 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 on the edge of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I thought it would be interesting to share with you some information I found online about the beautiful sculptures you are able to see throughout the park and a bit of background on each piece - today I'm happy to give you a closer look at CHIHULY Flori Boats at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park . . .

Dale Chihuly’s Float Boat is a famous sculpture series featuring wooden or metal boats filled with brightly colored, blown-glass spheres. Key aspects include its origins in a 1995 Finland project, spherical glass inspired by Japanese fishing floats, and prominent installations worldwide. 

Origin and Inspiration

Finland 1995: During the Chihuly Over Venice project, the artist tossed glass forms into the Nuutajoki River to watch them interact with water and light. 
Local Recovery: Local teenagers retrieved the drifting glass pieces using small wooden rowboats, giving Chihuly the idea to mass glass inside actual boats. 
Childhood Memories: The round glass shapes recall Japanese fishing net floats Chihuly found on Washington beaches as a child, alongside a later trip to Niijima, Japan. 

Design and Materials

The Vessels: Uses aged wooden boats or steel shells styled to look like old wooden watercraft. 
The Glass: Packed with large, vibrant, multi-colored blown-glass spheres (often called Niijima Floats) sometimes mixed with other elements like his Ikebana or Fiori series. 
Outdoor Placement: Frequently set directly into gardens, ponds, or along forest paths so natural sunlight and water reflect off the glass.

CHIHULY Float Boat is another of my favorite parts of the Chihuly exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - I know, there are several parts of this exhibit which are my favorite! I really love the colors and designs of the Niijima Floats which fill the Float Boat and I love where it is located near the waterfall in the Japanese Garden - it is a piece which will absolutely get your attention - it is absolutely beautiful!

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 Float Boat absolutely will give you another reason you will be so glad you do!