USA

The Mountain that Chihuly created is more brutal than anything else he has made, because of the raw steel and sharp edges, yet it is crowned with sparkling chunks; the time to view it is when the sun is low at the walls and the knitted web of crystal becomes translucent. If you can find the hidden way inside, you'll be bleached in unearthly palest crimson. There was a fateful day at the Mountain. It was both the longest day of the year and the midpoint of the team's work on the project. Jerusalem was very hot and even brighter, and the welders on the Mountain seemed to be competing with the sun as their electric torches generated blinding sparks. While below them there was a curious lull in the work, as we waited for an essential but very late container shipment to arrive and as Chihuly pondered what to do next, how to approach certain problems. One big problem: would there be enough chunks of pink crystals (Chihuly's polyvitro)? After all, paradise is a realm of plenty, isn't it? By 4:00 p.m., following Chihuly's suggestion, the team formed a human chain of crystal haulers and filled in three wedges (out of twelve) as a test and - Yes! There was plenty.