Showing posts with label #ArtasInspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #ArtasInspiration. Show all posts

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Art in Nature opening Reception, April 4th, 6-8 pm AJ Dillon Gallery for Food, Drink, Art

Art in Nature, graphic by Tom Sebazco

It was a snowy, Sunday evening in January and I had just gotten to the loft to write when a dear, long-time garden design client, Joe, called and asked if I could stop down to his new office’s next door neighbor: the AJ Dillon Gallery Fine Art.
Sure thing.   I didn’t have a clue what it was all about-- but no matter.  If Joe asked – I’m there.

After Joe made the introduction to Frank Leahy, gallery owner and an accomplished painter in his own right, I found out what was in store.  I was surprised – and delighted – and honored - to be invited to curate an April garden-themed show!

Of course I love all things garden.  I am a garden designer, I worked at NYBG and BBG, and belong to countless horticulture and garden professional organizations, attend myriad garden and plant lectures and garden tours, (just got back from an Ecuadorean garden design work project); and I write about gardens…
Given April is a kind of sweet, spring gateway to the green, growing season here.  I was all in…
Soon, the snowy winter scene outside gave way to swirling blossoms, fragrant flowers, and green foliage.  In my head, that is. 

Still, as I thought about what the show could be, I wanted it to be more than “just” pretty flowers.  I wanted to grab people; reorient their house & garden “look book” ideas of what a garden is. 
This was not to be only an idealized botanical art and illustration or Hudson River School version of nature and art.  After all, the Two River area is still healing from Superstorm Sandy, so I was hoping nature in all its fury and power could be rendered in artful displays, too. 
Then there’s the big climate change elephant in the room that art is uniquely prepared to illuminate.  Art can make us see and – viscerally feel - what’s been disorienting our weather, oceans, seasons, and growing seasons…
  
I embrace the idea that nature and gardens are art – and further – that nature inspires all artists. 

I thought the show would enrich the Gallery, visitors, art enthusiasts and the artist community  - especially if we ambitiously pursued a full constellation of artful genres – from sculpture to ceramics to painting and photography to fashion to Kokedama, to performance art and music. 
Let’s joyfully explore the galaxy of art and artists inspired by nature. 

After dreaming a bit – not only the kind of show we’d present, but also the title of the show came to me: Art in Nature.  It’s everywhere if we just have the vision to see it.

I worked up a plan for Frank to review and approve how we could make this happen. 
I really, really wanted to give the artists a forum and a showcase to not only display their art, but also to allow them a way to sell their work.  And not just to the bricks and mortar Gallery but also to reach a larger audience.  I had just recently discovered the “Shop Now” option on Facebook.   I suggested we could sell the art to the vast audience beyond the Gallery’s walls.  Facebook’s Shop Now feature makes it all rather easy.

On the other hand, getting all the art submitted -- not so much! 
Artists are like racehorses.  A pure breed whose personalities and temperament are very much individual -- thoroughbred traits breed exceptional, rare breeds.  I love them.

After a mix of coaxing, cajoling, a kind of maternal soothing and encouragement – me and Emily Potts, the AJ Dillon Gallery manager and talented photographer I’ve had the privilege to work with on the show  - found we had an abundance of artful treasure: the painting, photography and ceramics and performance art started to cover almost every inch of the Gallery.  It was coming in from North Carolina and New York and the Garden State.  It is all stunning.

And soon, the Garden State’s elected officials were weighing in too.
Congressman Frank Pallone sent a very supportive letter that we will read tonight at the opening Reception and will then post in the Gallery.  Thank you,  Congressman Frank Pallone. 
Friend and newly-elected Fair Haven Councilwoman Aimee Humphreys dropped off a wonderful letter, too. Thank you, Aimee. 
And Aimee has also submitted some of her beloved parent’s artwork for display in the show: her mother’s orchid painting and her father’s succulent photograph.  Years ago, her father did portraits of me and Bill and my parents.  I treasure the images… so special. 
Governor Christie’s office started off in simpatico but when I called to inquire about the letter or attendance, was told he needs six to eight months notice!  Must be all that out of state travel coordination ^:^

I returned home from Ecuador garden design work to snow last week – but hope is eternal.  And today is glorious sunshine.   
Spring is surely here!

Windows are the eyes of the Gallery

As part of show’s outreach – I wanted the Gallery’s display windows to reflect the magic and mystery of nature that was soon to be within.

Working with realism artist, Jessica Wohlers (my esteemed niece, too) we worked up a design concept:  tree branches – as a “shadow art” foundation – an “Into the Woods” seduction, if you will, adorned with twinkling lights, butterflies, glass globes – and Frank’s inimitable art. 

We visited Gotham’s Floral District where I get my client’s garden-themed styling elements for container and display compositions.  Well, most of the floral art world does too – as does Jessie, for her commercial photo and video styling.
Within two shopping days we were able to carefully select the elements to fulfill the window tableau design.

Jessie twisted, turned, and contorted the wisteria branches to bend to her will!  She had them up in the windows – arching along the front.  She flirted with the glissine paper to render the dimensional tree shadow art hanging from the branches.  After trial and error and organic channeling: ethereal success!
EunYoung Sebazco brought her otherworldly Kokedama, moss art.  I will write more about this art and she will conduct a children’s Master Class at the Gallery in April.  You can also read more at her blog: Green in the Box  
Horticultural Artist, EunYoung Sebazco & her Kokedama Moss Art, AJ Dillon Gallery


Art in Nature graphic

Frank had Emily print more of the invitation postcard (went through a lot of them – hope that’s a good sign.)
In designing the look of the ad/invitation, I wanted a Fibonacci-inspired graphic.  Fibonacci images are so significant to art and design. I found an image on the web and thought we could incorporate a collage-like series of images to represent the show’s variety of The Art in Nature show’s genres.
I was able to get NY artist, Tom Sebazco to render the concept – brilliantly.  Look closely at the Nautilus –swirl of a garden and you will see sculpture, music, ceramics, painting, film and photography…
All in brilliant colors with blossoms and flowers swirling about.  How about that vision?!

Thank you to Tori Sickles, Sickles Market for sharing the graphic on their Facebook page.

Reception
My brother James Popik is playing his jazz music, along with singer, Jen.  There will be food and drink and family and friends, and nature and art! 
We will be video taping the event, too.  

Racing down to the Gallery now for a walk-through and a few tweaks. 
See you later.




  

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Artful Garden Design Lecture Presented by Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Eric Groft

Oehme van Sweden design

Eric Groft, principal at the renowned landscape architectural firm, Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, was the featured speaker at the Metrohort’s inaugural meeting earlier this month.
Earlier that same day I attended the NY Design Center’s annual party/event for all things interior design where I met Jack Staub for his gorgeous Private Edens book signing at the Pennoyer Newman showroom (see earlier post) Proving it's a small world after all, especially when it comes to good design, when I told Jack where I was heading, he said to say hello to Eric.  They are professional friends; Jack said Eric brought him in on some projects.  I was happy to deliver his salutation.
Groft’s artful approach to designing the landscape that in turn, he learned from his former boss, James van Sweden, reflects much the way I approach garden design; inspired by the other fine arts and a Genius Loci (spirit of the place) so I was keen to hear him and see his portfolio of work.
Groft is billed as “encouraging everyone to find inspiration in the arts: painting, sculpture, even dance and ballet.  
Whether it’s a ten-foot-square city terrace or a ten-acre expanse, the same principles apply: the intelligent use of positive and negative space, of form and scale, of light and shadow, of rough and smooth textures. Eric illustrates the connection between the path in a garden and the horizon of an iconic painting, the syncopation of jazz and the free form of nature, and the intrigue of a good novel and the mystery of a thoughtfully sculpted landscape. “
Eric shared garden projects from the sandy beaches of Sagaponick to the rolling hills of northern West Chester County.  

The presentation was arranged by chapters, following the format of The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design written van Sweden, and my horticulture friend, Tom Christopher. 

Each chapter begins with a quote from a noted artist that sets the tone for the gardens presented.  For example, the Space and Form chapter introduces us to all the dimensions of a garden.  Lao Tzu wrote: “We turn clay to make a vessel; but it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel depends.” Or Duke Ellington’s musical art introduction to chapter four with the saying, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”  
I have an autographed copy of this delightful book. I love the way it laid out and its way of bringing us into artful orbit – connecting garden art to the other fine arts.  It’s an elegant book and a must-have inspirational addition to a garden library.  Van Sweden helped popularize the notion that garden design is a fine art influenced by another art form – referring to it as “The Hybrid Art.” The Artful Garden is filled with images from Monet to a scene from a Kabuki play to illustrate the glamorous inspirations and nexus of where garden art meets the other fine arts.
The breakthrough work with the Chicago Botanic Garden's Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Center is a classic already – the beautiful and practical rooftop eco-garden there is one that is widely studied and imitated.  

Eric said Chicago’s Green Roof design has made them “A leading authority on green roof research.”  The firm designed the infrastructure for the plants – much attention devoted to water issues from waterproofing to nurturing the “living laboratory” of the planting beds. 
Chicago Botanic Garden Green Roof
The science demonstrates how the 40,000 plants thrive in an extreme environment by using low maintenance – most are grasses.  He showed a field of verbena that is breathtaking.

Chicago Botanic Garden Great Basin: Image courtesy of Wolfgang Oehme

Eric's firm worked with the Botanic Garden to design and create more than 30 water gardens.  
Chicago Botanic Garden Great Basin "before" 

Eric showed how they employed the use of vined trellis bridge as a continuous thread of green in the Chicago Botanic Garden's Great Basin and Water Gardens where – unlike the masses of single plants, the palette here features great plant diversity.  Interesting that funds for transforming the Great Basin came from the creator of the American Girl doll, Pleasant Rowland. (As if having a name like Pleasant, wasn’t happy enough!)


There was a 25-acre Greenwich home with no lawn – but lots and lots of daffodils. There was a landscape that merged house and garden in a grassy landscape that took its inspiration from Monticello. No detail is too insignificant. The firm designed a cobra handrail for a water garden pool, 

and built-in benches. Eric showed a stunning 5-acre house, swimming pool pond with wet and dry coping that is used to best reflect the plants in the water. Double the pleasure. 

Liquid, mirrored beauty.


Photo courtesy of Oehme van Sweden; photograph byClaire Takacs features a Grace Knowlton Sphere sculpture.

Oehm van Sweden Landscape Architects is renowned for its diversity in residential, commercial and institutional work from Manhattan rooftop terraces to a 3,500-acre nature preserve/hunting lodge in Maryland.





I had intended to post this on the 26th – the one-year anniversary of the death of James van Sweden, the influential landscape architect who helped found the firm in 1977 with Wolfgang Oehme and were very much known for their exuberant use of ornamental grasses and wildflowers – and land conservation. I salute Mr. van Sweden and his passing. The design world mourns its loss...


In his work, Eric writes that he takes pride in his sense of regionalism and attention to the vernacular. He has a passion for horticulture.  This is no small thing.  It’s far too frequent that landscape architects know next to nil about the horticulture and plants. Usually they bring in garden designers or horticulturists and they keep to the hardscaping and land reform. 
Eric Groft talking to Metrohort members 
Eric is widely recognized as an industry leader in environmental/wetland restoration, and shoreline stabilization/revetment.

Via a follow up email, Eric explained about the firm's shoreline work, including some terrific plant suggestions: “The loss of the towering oaks, allowed for better light to hit the lawn and planting beds below and it cleared up an area where we installed some broad lawn steps that led the eye up the hill and connected the “rockery” to the rest of the garden.

     The shoreline revetment in Sagaponick was an opportunity for us to do some revegetation        
     using Amophila/Cord Grass, Limonium/ Sea Lavender, Solidago gramifolium and Eryingium/Sea Holly. 
     This was done in combination with the NY State beach revetment providing a seamless transition from             
     our seaside garden to the ocean and extending the beach significantly
   
     Select plants that can take the transition from dry to wet: Panicum, Carex, Solidago, Rudbeckia.”