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World Renowned Artist Dale Chihuly Back At Fairchild Gardens

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- World renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly is bringing something extra special to the natural beauty of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Those who stop by the 83-acre gardens will be able to enjoy 26 pieces on display.

Visitors will wander  through a fantastical garden where nature meets art.

"We have 24 installation sites, it can't really count bv numbers because some pieces have thousands pieces and some will be an individual piece," said the Director of Exhibitions for Chihuly Britt Cornett.  "The beauty about Chihuly's art work is that it does so work in a natural garden. It's kind of made for it," Britt said.

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While Chihuly is based in Seattle, he is in South Florida for the opening of the exhibition which takes place Saturday. There will also be a book signing at 1:00 p.m.

This is the third time dale Chihuly has exhibited his work here at the gardens,  a favorite spot for the world-renowned glass blower, who now designs only on paper and has others blow glass for him due to an eye injury years ago.

Most of Chihuly's work is made from glass but others like the "lime crystal tower"  and a 25-foot polyvitro chandelier are created  from  a lighter material called polyurethane.

There are eye-catching  pieces among flowing rivers and pieces that almost look as though they were grown on site.

Installing the highly  breakable works of art is no easy task.

"We had  eight  53-foot  container  trucks  filled with his work.  That's 53 feet  cubic feet of boxes and eight filled completely, so you  can  imagine it was quite the task," said Britt.

A particular piece called "Niijima Flats" was inspired by the artist when  he spent time in Niijima, Japan.

The exhibition, sponsored by CBS4, will be on view from December 6, 2014 – May 31, 2015.

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