Born 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly became the most famous ornate glass-maker of the late 20th century in America.

He received a B.A. degree from the University of Washington at Seattle and an M.F.A. in 1968 from the Rhode Island School of Design. From 1967 to 1980, he was Chairman there of the Department of Glassblowing. In 1971, he was a co-founder of the Pilchuck Glass Center in Stanwood, Washington near Seattle.

His colorful, abstract blown glass has made him nationally famous, and one of his biggest projects has likely been the thirty-five foot high, 550 foot long pedestrian bridge in Tacoma, Washington. It has five tall glass pavilions with eight- million dollars worth of Chihuly glass. He also did a chandelier in Triest that was 200 feet long, and he added some plastic to the glass to make it lighter weight.

Another unique project was in 1999 when, with the help of many workers, he constructed a 64 ton ice wall outside Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate. The ice was cut from an Alaskan artesian well and ferried to Jerusalem on container ships. Lit with multi-colored lights, the ice melted two days after completion.