Flame of Liberty

The centerpiece of the Museum’s glass art collection is the 21-foot Flame of Liberty. The Flame of Liberty was commissioned in 1998 and completed by the artist Dale Chihuly for the opening of the Museum in 2000. The Flame is approximately 21 feet tall, weighs over 800 pounds and is comprised of 546 individual pieces of hand-blown glass (359 in the tower and 187 in the chandelier). 

The glass itself represents the strength and fragility of liberty. Liberty and glass are both fragile, in that both require attention and need to be cared for, and strong, in that they can withstand a lot of pressure. Once liberty is diminished or taken away completely, even if it is given back, it is hard or even impossible to restore back to its original state. The depiction of fire represents utility, in that it can provide warmth and light, but also an understanding that it can be harmful if not tended to carefully. Liberty allows for ideas and actions that benefit society to flourish, but can likewise lead to restrictive legislation, spaces, and behavior if not participated in. On guided tours the Flame of Liberty is an evocative springboard for discussion about the strength and fragility of Liberty, and the quest for freedom in our nation and around the world.