FORT COLLINS, CO.- Chihuly Venetians: From the George R. Stroemple Collection opened at the Fort Collins Museum of Art on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. It will be on view until March 18, 2012. This exhibition marks the re-opening of the museum that has been closed since September 28th due to significant water damage created by HVAC failures at the museum’s 100 year-old National Historic Register facility in Old Town Fort Collins. Chihuly Venetians showcases over 45 works from Chihuly’s most innovative and unusual series that was inspired by Art Deco Venetian art glass from the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Venetians are characterized by their voluptuousness and sensuousness as well as their rich color combinations and idiosyncratic forms. The series came about after Chihuly visited Venice during the winter of 1987-88 and saw a private collection of Venetian Art Deco vases. Chihuly described