Returning visitors to the Columbus Museum of Art might have a surprise in store in their next visit. The majority of the building and part of the sculpture garden outside are closed for a year-long renovation. The lobby has also been reconfigured with chairs and a café that replace the ticket counter. This is the second phase of a three-part renewal of the museum. It ends with the construction of a new wing scheduled to open in 2011.

In the meantime, not much is there. In addition to a sparse selection from the permanent collection, only one exhibit is open: “Chihuly Illuminated.” The exhibit features the artist Dale Chihuly, whose studio specializes in blown glass.

Lisa Dent, the newly-hired associate curator of contemporary art at the museum, said she views this as a chance for something positive.

“We knew going in that we would only have a select group of works from the permanent collection available to view in other areas, so that was something we had planned for. But we were really looking at that as an opportunity to focus on Chihuly and his works,” Dent said.

Chihuly has long been associated with the museum through the exhibition of “Chihuly Over Venice” in 1998 and his colorful chandeliers placed prominently in the museum’s Derby Court.

Because of his well-known status at the museum, one might imagine that “Chihuly Illuminated” would be a departure from his previous Columbus exhibitions. In some ways it is — in many others, it is not.

Walking into the exhibit, it is striking how dark the rooms are. Instead of the usual white walls, the room is painted dark gray. Dent says this was Chihuly’s choice, and it highlights the coloring and lighting of his pieces.

The first room shows an installation of buzzing, neon sculptures from Chihuly’s work in the 1970s. This opens into a selection of pieces shown next to items that inspire Chihuly. Native American baskets are intermixed with his glass versions, and colorful blankets reveal the origin of his palette and design sense.

The next room is filled with a wall of painted sketches that Chihuly produced after a car accident made him unable to participate in glass blowing. They feature bold golds and silvers mixed with bright pastels. Each work features a comically large signature.

The highlight of the gallery is Chihuly’s chandeliers. They are composed of smaller glass sculptures, wired together, that have different colors, shapes and textures.

The exhibit empties into a room of work that offers insight into Chihuly’s art. Dent says this is something she values at the museum.

“I was interested in coming here for the opportunity to show contemporary art within a historical context, which I think is one of the ways that we are different from what the Wexner Center does. Simply by having it in this space, we are already thinking about it and looking at it in relationship to other objects that are in the collection,” Dent said.

“Chihuly Illuminated” is part of “Chihuly in Columbus.” This is a partnership between the Columbus Museum of Art, the Franklin Park Conservatory, and Hawk Galleries.

The show closes July 4, 2010.