Two months into the job at the new de Young Museum in San Francisco, Director John Buchanan made a phone call to Dale Chihuly. He asked Dale if he would come see the new 12000 square feet area, and if he liked it, he could create any exhibition he wanted.
A year was carved out, and a team assembled. Dale decided to take this opportunity to recreate favorite works he has not done in 40 years. Thousands of pieces were created to fill the de Young. Dale's first neon work from 1967 and the 1971Glass Forest were re-imagined; he made a series of cylinders, in black for the first time, along with his signature chandeliers and Macchia. When Tim Burgard of the de Young saw Dale's Indian Room in the Seattle studios, he knew it had to be redone in Exhibition, including moving the 700-year old table and using it to showcase a dozen new pieces. In addition to the main exhibition, a preview installation of three pieces was put in at the de Young's sister museum, the Legion of Honor.
A new attendance record was set for the De Young, and ranks among the best-attended Chihuly exhibitions ever. It started with a conversation between two men, and unfolded into a conversation with a team, a visionary artist, and the very medium itself.

60 minutes plus companion book