Round Rock's very own Chihuly glass sculpture will soon be available to view in the City Arts Center.
Current situation
The installation will open to the public July 15, the city announced via social media July 10. In addition to the permanent 9-foot-tall "Ruby Sunstone Pineapple" statue made up of over 200 individually hand-blown pieces, seven original works from artist Dale Chihuly are included in the exhibit for three months.
The red and orange sculpture was specifically commissioned for the city of Round Rock and is intended to help establish the city's arts center as a regional arts destination and attract visitors to the city's downtown, according to the announcement.
How we got here
The Round Rock City Council approved a $360,000 contract with Chihuly Studio to design and assemble a site-specific artwork in December. The project is financed through hotel occupancy tax revenue, the use of which is limited by the Texas Comptroller's Office. Funds can only be used for projects that are generally aligned with increasing tourism, per the comptroller, including arts, sporting events, preserved historic sites and museums.
Some context
Chihuly is an internationally recognized American artist known for immense, vividly colored blown-glass sculptures and immersive installations.
His work has been exhibited in major museums, botanical gardens and public spaces around the world, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, installations at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and exhibitions at institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
