Inspiration

This is a Chihuly glass sculpture that permanently resides at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. There have been 2 spectacular exhibitions of his art here but this photo captures my favorite.
The artist's continuing success by adapting to his new challenges is an inspiration.

Background:
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur. His works are considered unique to the field of blown glass. The technical difficulties of working with glass forms are considerable, yet Chihuly uses it as the primary medium for installations and environmental artwork.

In 1976, he was involved in a head-on car accident during which he flew through the windshield. His face was severely cut by glass and he was blinded in his left eye. After recovering, he continued to blow glass until he dislocated his right shoulder. No longer able to hold the glass blowing pipe, he hired others to do the work.

Chihuly explained the change in an interview, saying "Once I stepped back, I liked the view" and pointed out that it allowed him to see the work from more perspectives and enabled him to anticipate problems faster. Chihuly describes his role as "more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor."