Fact Check: Five Myths about the Chihuly Museum

1

MYTH
Because the blue-ribbon panel recommended it, Chihuly at the Needle will be built by the fiftieth anniversary of the World’s Fair in April.

FACT
Even if McGinn says yes, it still has to go to the City Council, whose parks committee doesn’t meet until December. Don’t bet money on seeing Chihuly at the Needle by April. 

2

MYTH
It’s either/or – either the Chihuly exhibition will win, or the rival Open Platform proposal involving open green space and (probably) a KEXP performance space will be approved.

FACT
All three entities are bargaining hard and fast. “The discussion really needs to be a ‘this and that’ opportunity more than a ‘this or that’ competition,” says Space Needle CEO Ron Sevart. KEXP’s Tom Mara adds, “We’ve been advocates of a holistic approach that could work for everybody.”

3

MYTH
Everybody knows everybody hates Chihuly.

FACT
Many art insiders do. But in ten years, ten million people have trooped to Chihuly shows worldwide. Backers expect four hundred thousand a year at Chihuly at the Needle. Here’s the vote among those who recently wrote in to Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw (not a Chihuly cheerleader): 54.6 percent pro-Chihuly, 7.6 percent anti-Chihuly, 32.1 percent pro–Open Platform plus KEXP, 3.7 percent for keeping the Fun Forest, 1.9 percent for a Northwest Native Cultural Center. 

4

MYTH
The decision must be made ASAP. 

FACT
There’s no reason it must be – except to expedite the $24 million Chihuly could bring the city. “It’s a rash, sudden, money-driven decision rather than anything to do with a long-term vision for the park,” complains Seattle arts commissioner Eric Fredericksen.

5

MYTH
If Chihuly wins, all the rival efforts were futile.

FACT
“There is room on the Seattle Center campus for many of the ideas that were presented,” says Sevart. “KEXP would be a strong addition to the campus.” He’d just rather see it somewhere else, such as the three-acre northern end of the Fun Forest site. The anti-Chihuly protests prompted Sevart’s group to add to its proposal, kicking in over $1 million to turn what’s now asphalt into an art playground full of non-Chihuly art. “This free, green, open, active play and art space will fill a need on campus as there is currently no playground for kids.” So Open Platform’s efforts will have resulted in at least some greenery, no matter what. Even Chihuly’s lowest-hope rival, the Native cultural faction, benefits from the controversy. Now it will get way more attention in the World’s Fair fiftieth anniversary festivities than it would ever have gotten otherwise. Says Bagshaw’s legislative aide Philip Roewe, “Count on it.” •