Every first Friday of July since 1991, our garden becomes the focus of not only wonders of the plant kingdom, but also of art and merrymaking at The Art Garden Annual Opening.
Performance, art, Martha the mighty rosemary bush, our beautiful community and art appreciation align in surprising ways — sometimes involving the local police, but always involving a lot of laughter and drumming, if you stay late enough.
So, what else may you find at The Art Garden Annual Opening?
Artists new and seasoned mill about, glass in hand, pondering outdoor art among the greenery with guests, possibly taking in poetry read by a nude bard, witnessing a pyrotechnic weasel burst with life, or soaking up a saxophone serenade. So, one never knows what delights may be discovered.
Because a large part of the fun is the hunt for that intriguing piece that belongs as part of your own collection, (or possibly a few), it helps to have the numbered guide to works and artists in hand. This list is like a treasure hunt map – a challenge to locate all the art among the flowers, which can take some doing! As well, finding the artists can be even trickier but well worth the effort.
The journey is the fun bit, but did I miss that piece?
Not to fear! If you get caught up in a scintillating convo, all works from the art garden are available in our store online and also remain on display in the garden throughout the summer. But, be sure to put dibs in on your favourites because they do tend to sell.
Umberto DeBoni metal sculpture 
Jim Macnamara stone and wood bench 
Glass flowers by Mike Kaplan among the flowers and herbs 
Metal chair sculpture by Derek Martin 
Garden Sculptures 
Concrete turtle by Ted Sivell 
Airborne Art in the Art Garden by jon oelrichs -
Live music is an Art Garden tradition jon oelrichs on sax -
The treasure hunt is on! -
Looking out toward the studio 
Dolphin sculpture by Fran Bouwman 
Metal sculpture by Umberto DeBoni
2020 didn’t stop us
So, 2020 being the year it is, for the first time the gathering became a more intimate, quiet affair. But art still blooms like a hardy weed for all who wish to view it. A diverse cornucopia of media, colour, and texture graces the garden this year as it has for the past 29!
Mark your calendar
Because Friday, July 2, 2021, will be the 30th Anniversary of The Art Garden Annual Opening — we invite you to mark your calendars! We look forward to a more fulsome celebration of great art, great friends and of course, the garden. So join us in anticipation and prepare to be greeted with vigorous plants, vigorous humans, and vigorous art.
Looking forward to seeing you in the garden!
— Carol
