Wander the Conservatory’s lush rainforest to glimpse Chihuly’s glass sculptures sprouting within, and discover the fascinating story of his inspirations and innovations.

Dive deep into the world of Dale Chihuly with this accompanying exhibition that explores the celebrated artist’s life, career, inspirations, epic installations, and his remarkable influence on contemporary glass art.

Groupings of Chihuly’s glass sculptures erupt from the lush rainforest inside our magnificent Bicentennial Conservatory, where they appear to sprout like ‘hybrid plants’ from the vegetation within. Writhing and twisting, they echo the vivid colours and bizarre forms of wild tropical plants.

The exhibition offers tantalising glimpses behind the doors of the Chihuly hot shop and insights into how those towering sculptures placed throughout the Botanic Garden were conceived, transported and built on site.

As a part of the exhibition, the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium are collaborating with leading South Australian glass artist, Tom Moore. Using ancient glass techniques, Tom creates fantastical futuristic creatures. These creatures, often hybrids or combination of species (plants, animals, objects), come from an imagined world where nature has taken over our cities and streets.

Within the exhibition, students have opportunity to take part in a design challenge competition to create their own hybrid creatures. Designs are submitted to Tom Moore who will choose a design each month to make.

Students will

Consider what adaptations would benefit a creature that would live in Chihuly's glass habitat
Use creative and critical thinking to design and create their own creature
Apply understanding of adaptations to a design challenge
Submit drawings of their creatures into a competition where Tom Moore chooses one drawing to create from glass each month of the exhibition! It will be displayed at Adelaide Botanic Garden, and the winner can take it home at the end of the show.

This is a self-guided experience, for an educator led experience please book a Chihuly educator-led trail which includes entry to In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly and the Tom Moore activity.

Dates: Monday to Friday during Term 4 2024 and Term 1 2025
Times: 10:00am to 10:45am, 12:00pm to 12:45pm or 1:45pm to 2:30pm (45-minute sessions)
Location: Bicentennial Conservatory, Adelaide Botanic Garden (please note entrance will be via the southern entrance)
Cost: Invoiced after the excursion or paid by credit card via Humanitix

Standard cost - $75.00 per class group of Year 7 to Year 12 students
Discount cost for DfE Category of Disadvantage 1-4 sites, rural and remote - $56.25 per class group of Year 7 to Year 12 students

Please note there is no cost for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, bookings still essential

Image above: Dale Chihuly, RED BULBOUS REEDS, 2022, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, installed 2023 © 2022 Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved.

Contact the host of In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly for schools [Self-guided]