ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN

Inspiration unfolds as Huntsville Botanical Garden hosts new exhibit

STORY BY LAURA MCPHAIL

AArt and nature will merge into one unforgettable experience at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) March 3 when the ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN exhibition opens to the public.

Created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box and presented by PNC Bank, 18 pieces from the collection of larger-than-life sculptures inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami will temporarily call the Garden ‘home’ through the end of August.

Box has taken origami, which literally means ‘folding paper,’ in a new direction. After years of experimentation, he developed a technique that led to several successful castings of paper into bronze.

“This exhibit is a perfect fit for Huntsville Botanical Garden,” said HBG Chief Executive Officer Sue Wagner. “Paper is made from plants, origami is made from paper, and the origami sculptures that will be displayed in the Garden reflect elements of the natural world. It’s a beautiful melding of subject and setting.”

Along with wife and co-creator, Jennifer, Box collaborated with world-renowned origami masters Te Jui Fu, Robert J. Lang, Beth Johnson and Michael LaFosse to create original designs that eventually became the huge statues made of museum-quality metals that will dot the landscape and adorn the atrium at the Garden.

“As a national main street bank, PNC strongly supports the communities where we live and work,” said Nick Willis, PNC regional president for Greater Alabama. “We are delighted to support this exhibit and the Gardens as they continue to inspire imagination and make a lasting impact on our Huntsville community.”

Sculptures in the exhibit include colossal butterflies, ponies, birds and more. The highlight of the show will be “Master Peace,” a 25-foot-tall sculpture of hundreds of origami peace cranes towering over the Aquatic Garden.

Box believes that seeing the sculptures amid the natural beauty found in botanical gardens makes it more of an immersive experience than one would get while viewing them in a museum with hushed whispers and recycled air.

“I think that there’s nothing more enchanting than experiencing art in the outdoor environment,” Box reflected. “Botanical gardens are museums for plants. It’s just the perfect setting.”

ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN is included with regular admission to the Garden. To create a more complete experience, a free audio tour is available for guests to dial into and hear interpretation for each piece directly from the artist.

“We are so grateful for the support from PNC that helped bring this delightful yet sophisticated exhibit to our community,” said Wagner. “We feel confident that people who come see this exhibit will leave with a sense of inspiration.”

To learn more about ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN or other events, programs, classes and more at Huntsville Botanical Garden, visit hsvbg.org

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