Glass Artist Chihuly Helps Seattle’s ‘Weapons To Words’ Project

You may know this artist for his breathtaking sculptures of blown glass. His works are displayed throughout the world, and they fascinate people of all ages and walks of life. The colorful twirling pieces of glass come together to create a frenzied and fanciful display. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m talking about Dale Chihuly.

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Paulette Suddarth Blog

This Tacoma, Washington artist is taking an unexpected diversion from glass to metal. Chihuly Studios will be assisting in a project whereby metal obtained from melting down guns will be remade into public art. The guns were gathered during a gun buy back program in Seattle. The buy back program was initiated after the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. In cooperation with the city, Chihuly Studios and Schnitzer Steel will fund the project whereby each brick will be engraved with quotes from local school children. The program is appropriately called Weapons to Words.

While organizers acknowledge that the program won’t single-handedly reduce gun violence, they do hope that it will give kids an outlet to express their feelings on the subject. At the press conference for the project, Leslie Chihuly, the wife of the famed artist stated

When you do these things that involve the creative side of the brain, it’s very difficult to be perpetrating acts of violence at the same time.

Once each brick has been engraved with a quote, they will be placed throughout the city. This project will surely touch the lives of many people for years to come. It is one way that inspiration can be borne of tragedy.

Edited and published by CB