Desert Glass

This morning I awoke bright and early before the sun rose as I always do on a Saturday morning. It is Tai Chi morning. The morning was a very special morning since the place that hosts our Tai Chi classes is at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I cannot think of a more perfect place to do our tai chi among the catci, succulents, yuccas, and other desert flora and fauna.

This morning the Desert Botanical gardens also hosted something very special in which led me to do wild and deviant behaviors... I am now a harden criminal. Today marked the grand opening of Chihuly Nature of Glass in the Desert Gardens!!! However, the gardens was not open to public with the exception of the elite few who could cough up 500 dollars for this exclusive package which included breakfast, lecture and video with Dale Chihuly himself, and the tour of the garden with the extraordinary exhibits of glass placed around the gardens. Oh, sure classes were still held but we were sent emails with explicit directions of how to proceed through the admissions and then to our classes.

When I arrived at the opening hour, the gates were open with staff checking in the VIP special folks and security guards checking people. I of course was stopped and when asked what I was doing, I said I am just going to my class (Tai Chi). The guy was saying "oh you need to wear these special wrist bands, etc." I was like ok and he pointed me in the direction of another security person. I walked right pass and continued into the gardens. I knew if I was caught I would be in serious trouble. Probably be kicked out.

Since I had arrived early before start of class and of course my other class mates were stalled behind me, captured into debriefing and being fitted for bands for the lowly few who only come to classes, I went ahead and toured the garden and started to take pictures!!! (And of course hide my wrists from being exposed to suspicious guards monitoring the area.)

So ENJOY!!!

And now you are probably wondering, did I see Chihuly???? After much sleuthing and peaking through cacti into the VIP area of breakfast and the hidden gallery of where the lecture was being held, I found out something. He was making an appearance by the entrance. Ah ha!!! And after almost an hour of waiting I saw him zip by on a cart.

I met Chihuly about 10 years ago in Tacoma. My Dad and I were listening to a Celtic band playing outside on the streets by a pub. Then suddenly my dad was saying something like NO WAY, there is CHIHULY!!! And sure enough there he was amidst the crowd with a pint of beer in his hand. If anyone is acquainted with Chihuly, they would know a very few obvious characteristics of Chihuly persona. He sports a patch over his left eye, has an afro (big hair), and shoes splattered with paint. He is looking much the same but just a wee bit older these days. But still winning smile.

And I marched out having accomplished all I set out to do without having to pay 500 dollars. Who cares about a breakfast and movie lecture. I was among the first to see the glass being set up and was there at the opening. And most importantly, see Dale Chihuly, and be illuminated by his artistic aura.

Of course, I highly recommend that everyone comes to the the gardens and view the glass exhibits themselves. Sometimes pictures do not do justice and this is only a smidgen of a few glass exhibits in the garden. There is much, much more. It will be open to public from now on till about May so come, come!