Athens, Ga. – The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will feature the work of Atlanta artist Andrew T. Crawford in an upcoming exhibition of garden gates. Five gates will be on display March 4 – Dec. 23 in the display gardens, placed to complement the setting. A sixth gate and a gallery display illustrating the design and construction process and sculpted works will be on display in the Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center and Conservatory March 4 – April 28.
Director of Horticulture Jeannette Coplin will recount “Tales from the Field: Installing our First Art Exhibition” at a Friends First Friday breakfast gathering, on March 4 at 9 a.m.
The opening reception for the exhibition, sponsored by Athens First Bank and Trust, will be a ticketed event in the Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center and Conservatory on March 4 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Andrew Crawford will lead a free walking tour of the gallery exhibit and gates, starting at the Visitor Center on March 5 at 12 p.m.
A sunflower gate will be located in the Flower Garden, which also will be the location of the 11th Annual Sunflower Concert Series during the summer. An assortment of garden tools will accent a gate located among the vegetable crops of the Heritage Garden. The vine gate will be located within the Visitor Center.
“Each piece of this (stainless steel sunflower) gate has been finished like a piece of jewelry-it’s forged, it’s formed, it’s welded-and then it’s almost like that is just the beginning of it.” Crawford explained.
Facebook fans have been following Crawford’s progress on these gates for months, watching as each new gate is completed, progress made on the accompanying gallery exhibit, a detail is worked out, and as one gate is placed in the Garden to test the support and location.
Garden director Wilf Nicholls explained “Different installations of artwork are really exciting in a garden, adding to a dynamic place where there is always another reason to come in.”
For corporate sponsorship opportunities, call Andrea Parris, director of development, at 706/542-6150.
For more information on the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, see www.uga.edu/botgarden or call 706/542-1244 for tickets.