CHIHULY CONNECTION MEET ANDY SCHLAUCH
When Andy Schlauch, director of The Chihuly Collection here in St. Pete, embarked on a community outreach program, he found a willing partner at The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club. The spectacular glass chandelier in the ballroom and the Persian set in the hotel lobby astound guests who ask questions, take photos, and seek more information about the talented glass artist. The only other hotels that have Dale Chihuly’s work on display are the Bellagio in Las Vegas, The Claridge in London, and The Ritz Carlton in Singapore. How did Chihuly choose St.
and more. We have a lot going on in all of our facilities.” Schlauch
Andy Schlauch, Director of The Chihuly Collection
used to work for Chihuly in Seattle. Three years after the exhibit opened in St. Peters- burg, they wanted some- one to drive programming, introduce other artists’ travel- ing exhibitions and give people
more reasons to come back. “They asked me if I wanted
Petersburg? Schlauch says a Florida traveling exhibit came to this city after a show in Orlando. The success and lasting impact on the community inspired Morean Arts Center to make Chihuly’s work accessible to a larger audience. “It is actually a living endowment and helps to support the 100-year-old institution that teaches art through summer camps, evening programs for kids, adult art classes and even a personal glass experience,” says Schlauch. “Attendees get a half- hour of instruction and come out making their own ornaments, beverage glasses, paper weights,
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VinoyRenaissanceResort.com
to relocate and it sounded interesting. That was seven years ago. I truly love St. Pete and working with the local artists,” said Schlauch. “The funny small world of it is that the pieces displayed at The Vinoy are commissions I worked on with Dale. I never got to see the final installation until I came here for the job interview. The hotel management would send me interior design boards with colors and fabrics planned for the renovation. Dale and I found some things in his archives which we presented, but Dale added elements to better fit the scale of the enormous lobby.” The Chihuly Collection’s accessibility initiatives include working with high school age students who have limited vision or are blind. “We had some glass shapes and forms that were not
Photo by Flourish Photography
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