Sunday, June 01, 2008

Visit to Fairchild Tropical-Botanic Garden

This past Saturday my family and I visited The Fairchild Tropical Garden on the last day of the Botero – Chihuly – Lichtenstein Art Exhibit. This year the garden transforms the botanical oasis that is Fairchild into a large outdoor art museum. The impressive pieces of these three amazing artists take on a different perspective when displayed in such a beautiful setting.

The sculptures of pop artist Roy Liechtenstein are massive and very colorful. One of the most intriguing of his pieces is the house above which is a flat, still fixture, but, as one walks by it, the house seems to spin around (sorry this fascinating effect cannot be captured in the photo).


The exquisite glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly are my personal favorites and, in my opinion, perfect for this garden setting. The above piece is called “End Of the Day” because it is comprised from pieces broken off other sculptures or that Chihuly did not use in finished works. Rather than disposing of them, he put them all together to make this beautiful tower of glittering glass. “End Of the Day” was purchased by a local benefactor for $180,000 and donated to Fairchild Gardens for everyone to enjoy.



The massive bronze statues of Fernando Botero are not my favorite style of art but I must admit they look very cool and very dramatic in a peaceful garden!

6 comments:

Green thumb said...

Thanks for taking us along on this exquisite garden tour. The sculptures are enchanting...the house sure looks like a 3-D structure!!
Best Wishes

Cheryl said...

Hi Rusty...Unusual pieces, like you I like the glass sculptures and in the right setting would look stunning.
I must say though that one of those bronze pieces would look nice in my little wood!!!
I can dream can't I?

Brenda Maas said...

I love the blue things in the water.

Tira said...

Thanks for the art tour, that must have been great for you and the kids. Lichtenstein is so amazing. I love the cobra-like glass sculptures rising out of the pond. The last bronze statue of Fernando Botero reminds me of Gustav Vigeland's large statutes, and of Vigeland Park in Oslo.

Wicked Gardener said...

Wow - how cool!! I kinda like the Botero sculptures. It must have all been so amazing in that setting.

Eric Bronson said...

I love Fairchild! One of my regular garden haunts!!!! Great Pix