Sculpture in the Garden Exhibit Marks 20th Year

Posted on Sept. 11, 2007

It’s a fall tradition. Each year for the past two decades, the display gardens at the N.C. Botanical Garden sprout a crop of unique creations by North Carolina artists. Nearly 50 one-of-a kind sculptures placed amid the native wildflowers and shrubs greet garden visitors for two months.

The 20th annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibition opens with a special gala reception on Friday, Sept. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The invitational show runs through Nov. 16 and will feature work by about 30 North Carolina artists. The sculptures come in a variety of media — from stone to stainless steel, concrete to clay, chain-sawed wood to recycled aluminum.

“Every year, the creativity and thoughtfulness of each piece are an inspiration to me,” said Stephen Keith, curator of the sculpture show. “Two months is not enough time to thoroughly take in all these thought-provoking pieces.”

The N.C. Botanical Garden, part of the UNC, is located off the U.S. 15-501 Bypass at Old Mason Farm Road in Chapel Hill. Admission to the Botanical Garden, as well as to the sculpture exhibition, is free. Geared toward all ages, Sculpture in the Garden appeals to the casual observer as well as the serious art collector. Most pieces are available for purchase, although they remain at the garden until the show closes.

Sculpture in the Garden is made possible through the financial support of the Botanical Garden Foundation Inc., the membership support organization for the garden.

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