If you visited the Dallas Arboretum over the weekend, you may have noticed the beginnings of Chihuly sculpture installation in the gardens. White Rock area resident Lottie Minnick was among the volunteers helping with the set-up, and she sent us these photos. Pictured with her are Alex Scott and Raven Gerber, installing in the Women’s Garden.

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“Getting to be part of the install is incredible,” Minnick says. “This is like being backstage with a favorite rock star for me.”

The arboretum’s staff and volunteers will be working overtime the next couple of weeks to prepare for the big opening on May 5, but they believe the end result will be well worth it. Here’s a glance at Chihuly, by the numbers:

23: Areas of the gardens that will house Dale Chihuly’s famed glass sculptures

4: People needed to assemble the largest of the sculptures

59: Evenings from May through October that the gardens will open after hours for Chihuly Nights

334: Light fixtures requested by Chihuly’s lighting specialist to illuminate pathways to the art pieces

300: Percent increase in attendance when the Chihuly exhibit visited Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory

40,000+: Volunteers needed over the course of the exhibit’s run in Dallas

The arboretum is still looking for volunteers to help with the exhibit. To become a Chihuly volunteer, contact Sue McCombs at 214.515.6561 or smccombs@dallasarboretum.org.