Glass cylinders from Pendleton blankets

Cool wraps:  Blankets and cylinders from Dale Chihuly on exhibitNative American trade blankets are utilitarian, worn in specific ways and for definite reasons by tribe members.

Yet, they have an artistic beauty all their own.

And such an essence that through the years internationally known blown-glass artist Dale Chihuly and his team translated the designs onto glass cylinders.

Eighty blankets, 15 cylinders and 17 postcard image prints of Native Americans of the 19th century wearing the blankets are featured in an exhibit opening today at Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.