Man Smashes $240,000 Worth of Art at Glass Museum
Someone broke into Seattle's Chihuly Garden and Glass late Monday night and destroyed 12 irreplaceable glass sculptures worth more than $240,000. Then things got considerably worse.
Alexander Taylor Weis, 40, was found inside a secure area of the exhibition actively smashing the garden's iconic glass plant sculptures. When security confronted him, he threw broken glass shards at the guard — at one point hurling a longer piece "like a javelin," according to charging documents. He then picked up a shard and tried to stab the guard multiple times. The guard backed off and waited for police, which was the right call.
What Happened When Police Arrived
When officers arrived, Weis was combative and refused to follow commands. He was tased before being taken into custody. He was booked into King County Jail on suspicion of burglary and assault.
By the time it was over, large pieces of colorful broken glass were scattered across the walking paths throughout the garden. Police called it catastrophic damage. The museum put the number at over $240,000 — 12 sculptures, each valued at approximately $20,000.
It remains unclear how Weis gained access to the area, which the security guard said was locked at the time of the incident.
The Charges
A judge set bail at $100,000 and found probable cause for first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and first-degree malicious mischief — the most serious felony classification for property damage under Washington state law. Weis was also ordered to have no contact with the museum.
On March 24, Weis appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to all three felony charges.
What the Museum Said
The broken pieces were cleared out by the following morning and the museum reopened on Tuesday during regular operating hours. A spokesperson confirmed the damaged works have been removed and that replacements are expected in the coming weeks — though it has not yet been confirmed whether those will be replicas or entirely new Chihuly creations.
"Fortunately, no one was harmed, and the individual who caused the damage was taken into custody by the Seattle Police Department," the spokesperson said. "Chihuly Garden and Glass is currently open to the public and has resumed regular operating hours."
About the Exhibition
The Chihuly Garden and Glass opened in 2012 next to the Space Needle at Seattle Center and is entirely dedicated to the work of artist Dale Chihuly, widely considered the leading figure in elevating blown glass to a serious artistic discipline. His works are part of more than 200 museum collections worldwide. The pieces in the garden aren't mass produced — each one is a handcrafted original.
One guy. One night. Gone.
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