Decour in the City - Pheonix, AZ

The Desert Botanical Garden - The Nature of Glass

Every once in a while, I like to get my fill of virtual culture and find out what is happening in the art world outside of DC. In my sifting, I found some breath-taking images from an installation at the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona.

The artist, Dale Chihuly, has created some of the most unique glass sculptures I have ever seen. They are interspersed throughout the garden and the effect is amazing. The bright colors and shapes are the perfect complement to the landscaping of the Garden.

Amazing... no?

Santiago Calatrava - The Quadracci Pavilion

Tucked away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the most beautifully avant garde buildings I have ever seen. The Milwaukee Art Museum. It was completed in 2001 and designed by spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

The dynamic form, massive size and innovative structure are just the beginning. Calatrava designed the building to be a moving work of art. The 90 ton, 217 foot wings adorning the outside of the edifice, The Burke Brise Soleil, actually move... amazing.

See for yourself: