yes, you read that right..... both dale chihuly's glass work and carlos di sarli's tango were found together in one night at the de young museum in san francisco's golden gate park. it was a magical coming together of artistic pleasures. but, before i delve into that evening specifically, this requires some background: i'm sure it's obvious by now that i enjoy tango, but less known is my affection for chihuly & his work. he is from tacoma washington & also attended my alma mater there {univ of puget sound}, so i became well aware of him in those formative college years. his work is on campus and all over town ~ beautiful adornments where ever you find them. and his studios are there too. i find it particularly perfect that so much genius beauty-making comes from a small city placed right on the puget sound.
the puget sound is one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth. not only on land but below the depths of the sound too ~ the largest concentration of cepholopods in the world are found in the waters {that run so deep the deepest point has yet to be measured}, and phosphorescent water creatures are incredibly prolific here too {full moon kayaking here is divine}.
not to mention the snow capped mountains that surround the emerald forests & vast waterways..... the inspiration for everything creative and contemplative is never ending.
and this is where we connect with tango ~ the creative and contemplative. i've been dancing since i was 4 {i still have my first pair of tap shoes} and have tried many forms of dance from west african to bhangra to ballet and none have evoked such depth of connection as tango. for me it's the perfect blend of feminine and masculine, an exchange of creative surrender and inspired decisiveness, a transfer of energies made more beautiful by mutual understanding and trust. all done to the most evocative of music.
on the very same evening as the first ever milonga en el museo, you could also go down stairs and see some of the most extraordinary blown glass ever made. being able to take in the sounds of di sarli and the feelings of tango, while also getting completely absorbed into chihuly's mystical glass wonderland was something so fabulous i couldn't help but try to share it with you here.
{many more photos here}this post wouldn't be complete without a soundtrack to get you in the mood:
CARLOS Di SARLi
.
.
{1st photo of puget sound by wild celtic rose. 2nd puget sound photo by canis latrans. all other photos by me}
the glassybaby studio in seattle's madrone distraict is in a low 5,700-square-foot warehouse, {interesting side note: this is a former black panthers stronghold with graffiti murals that are a protected landmark} and it is now a $2 million business where 26 people in rotating teams blow the colored translucent glasses with clear heavy bases seven days a week. 
even though the cups, candleholders and vases are made in just about every color in the spectrum, they all have the same drinking-glass shape with a heavy clear-glass bottom. 
until recently glassybaby has been sold only by word of mouth at private parties - much the way tupperware was once sold. now lee rhodes is taking the party on the road. 
she was in san francisco earlier this month to sell glassybabies in the presidio at the log cabin. it was her first attempt, since she was featured on martha stewart's fledgling home show in 2005, to spread her gospel ~ that a brand such as hers can bring people together.
