CHANGING GALLERY
Art that celebrates nature is on display throughout the Botanical Center. A variety of mediums are featured in the hanging displays that change frequently during the year. Share your art by completing the call for entry.
FEATURED artist
Patricia Reeves | West Des moines, IA
Every garden has a story, but they don’t always tell everything; they have secrets. Gardens are places we mostly frequent during the day, when the sunlight opens brilliant blooms. At night, they become shadowy and most flowers close up. All nature of things can happen in a garden and it is with great pleasure that I invite you to stroll along this exhibit, listen in, and hear, or tell your story.
I am a self-taught artist working in collage, printmaking, and photography. I grew up in a small town in south central Iowa with little exposure to the arts. But, I have always been a maker, drawing pictures in crayon, hand stitching capes for my cats to wear, staying late to finish up other kid’s elementary school art projects. I always thought art classes were for other people who new stuff I didn’t and had a mysterious artistic talent. But, I kept on making things; decoupage, macramé, clothing, etc. As a mature adult, I discovered collage, the art of cutting and gluing with the bonus of collecting paper and found images. Next, I discovered printmaking on a gelatin plate. I made my first plate with Knox gelatin poured into a jelly roll pan and left to congeal. I now use the commercial Gelli Plate. In this exhibit I have combined images from fashion magazines, sections of fashion scarves or fabric, and monoprints made on the Gelli Plate and used as the first layer of the collage. A monoprint can only be printed once, but layers of color and images can be achieved by overprinting onto the first print.
I love gardening and creating and have been in the Master Gardener program since 1999. I brought these two passions together as the founder, coordinator, and curator of the All-Iowa Master Gardener Art Show for its seven year run at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. More recently, I have exhibited in art shows throughout the Midwest.
I am a self-taught artist working in collage, printmaking, and photography. I grew up in a small town in south central Iowa with little exposure to the arts. But, I have always been a maker, drawing pictures in crayon, hand stitching capes for my cats to wear, staying late to finish up other kid’s elementary school art projects. I always thought art classes were for other people who new stuff I didn’t and had a mysterious artistic talent. But, I kept on making things; decoupage, macramé, clothing, etc. As a mature adult, I discovered collage, the art of cutting and gluing with the bonus of collecting paper and found images. Next, I discovered printmaking on a gelatin plate. I made my first plate with Knox gelatin poured into a jelly roll pan and left to congeal. I now use the commercial Gelli Plate. In this exhibit I have combined images from fashion magazines, sections of fashion scarves or fabric, and monoprints made on the Gelli Plate and used as the first layer of the collage. A monoprint can only be printed once, but layers of color and images can be achieved by overprinting onto the first print.
I love gardening and creating and have been in the Master Gardener program since 1999. I brought these two passions together as the founder, coordinator, and curator of the All-Iowa Master Gardener Art Show for its seven year run at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. More recently, I have exhibited in art shows throughout the Midwest.
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PERMANENT ART
GENERATION TO GENERATION
Commissioned and funded by Mrs. Isadora Katz, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Harris, and Mr. & Mrs. Zeivel Harris, in honor of Ann and Ben Harris, is the creation of artist Karoly Veress, a Hungarian sculptor. The bronze sculpture is an abstract form with a plant-like feel, and sections that appear to be growing. Over twelve feet tall, the sculpture is mounted near our reflecting pond in the South Gardens.
Artist’s statement: This sculpture reflects the vertical accumulation of the contributions of generations, striving for the highest, thereby building our culture. The four components grow upward, and support and embrace one another. To me, this is a metaphor of the living culture itself. A culture is flourishing and it is growing as long as we contribute to it, adding and changing the existing environment. It is important to contribute with great respect for our past and great responsibility for the future generations. Behind our contribution is the drive of self manifestation. If we contribute, we can keep our culture alive, and are able to create continually. But only here and now, at this spot and in this moment are we the closest to eternity. And please let us realize that every day in our life is an opportunity to mark our sot and make our fingerprint eternal.
Artist’s statement: This sculpture reflects the vertical accumulation of the contributions of generations, striving for the highest, thereby building our culture. The four components grow upward, and support and embrace one another. To me, this is a metaphor of the living culture itself. A culture is flourishing and it is growing as long as we contribute to it, adding and changing the existing environment. It is important to contribute with great respect for our past and great responsibility for the future generations. Behind our contribution is the drive of self manifestation. If we contribute, we can keep our culture alive, and are able to create continually. But only here and now, at this spot and in this moment are we the closest to eternity. And please let us realize that every day in our life is an opportunity to mark our sot and make our fingerprint eternal.
THE TOWER OF SHAMBALAH
Created and donated by John R. Vandewalle, this metal sculpture is found in the planting island in the middle of our circle drive, drawing the eye upward, and casting playful shadows on the perfectly manicured lawn.
Artist’s statement: I was born and raised on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities in Rock Island. I attended Rock Island High School and was instructed by teachers who were kind enough to instruct method without pushing their own ideas, allowing the student’s creative process to show. My formal study comes from Black Hawk College and Augustana College, where I graduated with a degree in Art. My formal study will never stop; I hope to continue to evolve with the help of my family and former teachers who will be influences for life. Being from the Quad Cities I am influenced by the prairie, the river, and the four seasons that change them. In this area we are fortunate enough to see nature in so many ways, it is our provider. It provides me with inspiration and the materials that I work with. Thank you for taking the time to stop and look at my pieces. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed creating them for you.
Artist’s statement: I was born and raised on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities in Rock Island. I attended Rock Island High School and was instructed by teachers who were kind enough to instruct method without pushing their own ideas, allowing the student’s creative process to show. My formal study comes from Black Hawk College and Augustana College, where I graduated with a degree in Art. My formal study will never stop; I hope to continue to evolve with the help of my family and former teachers who will be influences for life. Being from the Quad Cities I am influenced by the prairie, the river, and the four seasons that change them. In this area we are fortunate enough to see nature in so many ways, it is our provider. It provides me with inspiration and the materials that I work with. Thank you for taking the time to stop and look at my pieces. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed creating them for you.
BIRTH OF A DOLPHIN
By Bruce Turnbull, donated in honor by Jean Walgren
This sculpture is located in the Sun Garden.
This sculpture is located in the Sun Garden.
