NEWS
AUTUMN UPDATE Hopeful Honeyeaters by Pamela Pauline
Four enticing exhibitions – all free for entry – and a guided sculpture walk are set to make this year’s Garden Art Month a major drawcard for the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. The marquee event, Fungi x Botanica, runs from 24 April to 9 May at Lion Gate Lodge. It combines the 21st exhibition of Botanica with an artistic foray into the fascinating world of fungi (for more details head to page 18). Garden Art Month will also feature two new exhibitions. Natures Best (22 March–5 April in The Calyx) will focus on the works of artist Cylene Whiteley, who uses a wide variety of mediums to
Parrots in Peril, Poised Palms and Yesterday by Pamela Pauline
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THE GARDENS AUTUMN 2021
celebrate the natural world. And In Progress 3 (27 April–9 May in The Calyx) will feature painters Lorraine Best and Richard Sakurovs, who draw on their love of nature to explore new and familiar landscapes. One of the most intriguing elements of this year’s Garden Art Month will be Fragile Beauty Rich and Rare (6–26 April in The Calyx). Award-winning portrait, landscape and fine art photographer Pamela Pauline spent 18 months capturing images of endangered flora, before compositing and layering them to create the complex, contemporary, highly-detailed compositions that will be on display.
DON'T MISS APRIL SCULPTURE WALK As part of this year’s Garden Art Month, horticulturist Paul Nicholson will take visitors on a fascinating tour of the Royal Botanic Garden’s sculptures, statues and memorials. Nicholson, who has been a horticulturist with the Royal Botanic Garden for more than 25 years, is also currently the manager of the Garden's Volunteer Programs, where he designs and leads bespoke tours for visitors and specialist groups. “Each (of the Garden’s sculptures, statues and memorials) has a story to tell,” he says, “revealing the fascinating evolution of values, aesthetics and artistic taste of society.” Tours will run every Wednesday during April (10am–12noon), with participants meeting at The Calyx. The price is $20 for Foundation & Friends members and $25 for the general public. For more information and bookings visit rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ whatson/Wednesday-walks
Photos: Carrie Alexander, © Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
GARDEN ART MONTH
