Chihuly chandelier to adorn museum's atrium

The wait is over.

It has arrived - and so have The Contemporaries.

The Contemporaries, the Columbia Museum of Art's young professional group, commissioned a Dale Chihuly chandelier for the museum's atrium.

Chihuly, an artist known for his glass forms of nature, has created a piece that will brilliantly loom over all who walk in the museum.

Installation of the piece, which will hang in the David Wallace Robinson Jr. Atrium and DuBose-Poston Reception Hall, begins Tuesday.

The Contemporaries board has been raising money for the art acquisition project for three years.

Museum-goers probably will be able to see the finished installation this weekend, as the Chihuly team is expected to be done Friday.

Details

A by-the-numbers look at the installation:

61

Number of boxes shipped from Chihuly’s Seattle studio, called The Boathouse

950

Number of pieces shipped

159

Number of extra pieces shipped in case something breaks

2,477 pounds

Total weight of shipment

1,600 pounds

Weight of chandelier once it is hung

14 feet

Length of the chandelier

13 feet

Length from the lobby floor to chandelier’s bottom tip

11 feet

Widest dimension of the chandelier

3

Number of Chihuly team members installing the piece

$350,000

Cost of the piece, which includes shipping, installation and insurance

80

Donors who contributed to The Contemporaries’ fundraising

47

Donors who contributed more than $1,000

$1,000

Amount each Contemporaries board member contributed

18

Number of board members who contributed

400

Number of Contemporaries members

This story was originally published April 5, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Chihuly chandelier to adorn museum's atrium."