Mille Colori
- Artist: Dave Chihuly
- Material Used: Blown Glass
- Location: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
In 1996, artist Dale Chihuly created 15 enormous chandeliers, placing them under bridges and across the Venetian canals as a tribute to the biennale Aperto Vetro. The result was an electrifying, unforgettable experience. Several of these works were re-sited at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (now the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art) for the Art of Glass exhibition in 1999, including the multicolored Isola di San Giacomo in Palude chandelier. In 2003, Chihuly's colorful chandelier Isola di San Giacomo in Palude II was purchased through private donations and retitled Mille Colori. Permanently installed at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Chihuly's 14-foot tall chandelier hangs just above the heads of visitors in the center of the sunlit Rodriguez Pavilion.
Fun Facts
- Mille Colori is Italian and means "one thousand colors.”
- The estimated weight of Mille Colori is 2,200 to 2,500 pounds.
- Nature and gardens are two of his biggest inspirations.
- Each Chihuly exhibition is designed specifically for the space, exterior and interior included.
- The Rodriguez Pavilion was built to specifically house Mille Colori.
