Word 1 - Dale Chihuly
Long before Microsoft had a prince named Bill Gates, Amazon had a king named Jeff Bezos, and long before Google and Cuzco established their headquarters in the northwesternmost state of the USA, the artist Dale Chihuly was here. The man who turned glass into a modern artistic wonder.
So much of a celebrity that he received the most valuable piece of land from the city, beneath Seattle's famous Needle Monument, to open a museum of his spectacular glass creations.
Dale Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, a city neighboring Seattle. Like most of us, his first foray into art and design was at his parents' house when he started decorating the family basement. This inclination developed into a desire to study interior design at the University of Washington, a master's degree in sculpture, and another master's degree in material arts. Dale began melting and fusing glass when he was twenty. And he also researched fusions of glass, for example in weaving. and where? Again when he was alone in his parents' basement, where he began to create stained glass and also to blow glass.
Glassblowing was a job that was known as a solo job for centuries.
From the moment Dale touches the glass, a series of accidental and serendipitous events happen to Chihuly throughout his life that will bring him to change perceptions in the glass industry, and to world fame.
By the way, you too can practice randomness and serendipity!
In three workshops in Israel that are also a serendipitous chef's dinner, we will discover the four terms of chance, and learn how we can "turn chance" to our advantage. During the month of June and registration is in progress.
Interested in participating in the Serendipity dinner/workshop in Tel Aviv on June 14
Word 2 -️ Fulbright
In 1945, Senator J. Fulbright from the state of Arkansas, proposed to use the surplus budget of the US government after the Second World War, to finance the exchange of American students to other countries. For example in the field of science, the arts. The mission of the program, called Fulbright, was to bring a little more knowledge , a little more sense and a little more compassion for the world, especially with the end of the war, thus perhaps increasing the chance that countries will learn to live in peace and friendship.
In 1968, Dale Chihuly received a Fulbright scholarship to work in a glass factory in Venice, Italy. Chihuly became the first American glass artist to formally study at the Venini Fabbrica and also the first recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship to study the field of glass.
Until that moment, Dale blows glass alone in his parents' basement or in workshops. In Venice he got to know a team approach to glassblowing, as opposed to the approach of the individual artist, the solo artist, that was practiced in the United States. The first paradigm he will break immediately upon his return to the US where he begins to create the "hot shop" team approach of glassblowing, where several artisans work together to create a piece, each contributing a certain skill. This team approach became a critical aspect of his work.
That is, the Fulbright grant led Chihuly to a professional change and greatly influenced his artistic style and methodology, of working in a team. First pyramidal change.
Interested in participating in the Serendipity dinner/workshop in Tel Aviv on June 18
Word 3 = Coincidences
Dale Chihuly's career took an unexpected turn following a car accident in 1976 in which he lost the sight in one eye.
Depth perception that a person has, the one that allows him to hang laundry on the rope and not in the air between the ropes, exists because your two eyes see different images. The brain combines the images to form a single image. This process is called convergence. This explains why those who lose sight do not have good depth perception. When it comes to hanging laundry, then at most we will go down to the neighbor's and gather the socks we missed to hang. But when it comes to blowing glass, at temperatures that reach 1000 Celsius, it is a danger to life. Chihuly stops actively blowing glass himself, and instead begins to direct a team of artists to execute his designs. He begins to act like a conductor in an orchestra. Focuses on larger design concepts, leading to the development of globes, and chandeliers, and other large-scale glass arts that he is known for today.
While these incidents were unfortunate, they indirectly led to a new phase in his career where he was able to push the boundaries of glass art in ways he might not have been able to if he were working alone.
Certainly, Chihuly's ability to adapt and find new avenues for his artistic vision in the face of these challenges is a testament to his creativity and resilience. She is witness to a serendipitous journey.
And yes, all the photos in the newsletter are from the Museum of Glass in Seattle.
Interested in participating in the Serendipity dinner/workshop in Haifa on June 19
Bonus word = Seattle
Finally, some amusing words about Seattle
Seattle is a vibrant city that combines urban innovation with stunning natural beauty, offering visitors a unique blend of bustling city life, rich cultural experiences and outdoor adventures. With iconic landmarks like the Space Needle, a world-class dining scene, historic Pike Place Market, and easy access to beautiful hiking trails and water activities, Seattle promises an unforgettable travel experience filled with discovery and delight.
fun facts:
Birthplace of Starbucks: The first Starbucks in the world opened in Pike Place Market in Seattle in 1971. The store in the market still operates and maintains its original appearance. And at any moment there is a line of dozens of people to enter the place.
"Sleepless in Seattle": Seattle is familiar from the romantic comedy from 30 years ago "Sleepless in Seattle" from 1993 starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Since then the name of the movie has become one of the city's unofficial nicknames.
Space Needle Structure: Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle features a 520-foot observation deck and a 500-foot revolving restaurant. The food is nothing but there is a spectacular view of the city.
Music hub: Seattle is known for its music, especially being the birthplace of grunge music, with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden getting their start in the city. The famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix was also born in Seattle.
Downtown: After the Great Seattle Fire in 1889, the city was rebuilt on top of the ruins. This created an underground network of passages and cellars that are now part of Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
The city of rain: Seattle is the cloudiest city in the USA 226 days a year there is no sun (a real blow to Israelis). And the rest of the days, it mostly rains.
The city is also a hotbed for technology giants: Seattle is the birthplace of Amazon and Microsoft, two of the largest technology companies in the world.
And it's very famous for its ferries: Washington State's ferry system is the largest in the US and the third largest in the world, and it's reliable, cheap, and an essential part of Seattle's waterfront landscape.
The Gum Wall: One of Seattle's most unusual attractions is the Market Theater's Gum Wall, a brick wall covered in used chewing gum. Disgusting, but definitely unforgettable!.
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