Art of the Heirloom
Posted in Adult Education on August 29 2014, by Plant Talk
Adult Education is going to seed—but in a good way!
The new Fall-Winter course catalog showcases NYBG’s collaboration with Hudson Valley Seed Library, a farm-based company devoted to heirloom and open-pollinated seeds and garden-themed contemporary art. Every year, Hudson Valley Seed Library commissions unique, original artworks for its annual seed catalog—and this year a special NYBG seed pack coincides with the upcoming Art of the Heirloom exhibit. The Adult Education catalog features the Garden’s seed pack on the cover, with art from the exhibition included throughout.
On the cover, a wreath of Penstemon digitalis—a perennial native to New York also known as foxglove beardtongue—surrounds the iconic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
“We were looking for something that was native, easy to grow, and adaptable,” said Kristin Schleiter, Associate Vice President for Outdoor Gardens and Senior Curator. “It takes to sun or part shade; conditions range from average to pretty dry, it blooms a very long time, and it’s a really reliable plant.” Of course, she added, it’s also beautiful, starting to bloom “at a time when there’s not a lot else going on, so it’s a great addition to gardens.”
Like the other packs from the Hudson Valley Seed Library, the Garden’s seed pack celebrates genetic, cultural, and artistic diversity. Art of the Heirloom, an annual traveling exhibition now in its sixth year, highlights this delightful intersection of art and the garden. The elegant and witty collection features artists who range from the up-and-coming to the world-renowned, working in watercolor, collage, oil, letterpress, embroidery, and more.
Art of the Heirloom will be on exhibit in the Ross Gallery from November 15, 2014 to January 19, 2015. And on January 16, don’t miss the special lecture and gallery walk led by Ken Greene, Hudson Valley Seed Library founder and a tireless advocate for seed diversity.
Just as every seed plants a story, every class you take at NYBG plants a seed of learning and discovery. To browse and register for Fall-Winter classes, visit nybg.org/adulted
The New York Botanical Garden Penstemon digitalis seed pack is available at Shop in the Garden starting in November.
