The garden will play an important and active part in Glasmuseet Ebeltoft’s comprehensive summer exhibition, FLORA, which was opened by Danish actress, Ghita Nørby on 26th March. In connection with the exhibition, the museum’s minimalistic garden will be transformed into a blooming garden with a variety of flowers and plants, presented in square flowerbeds designed by Danish artist and garden architect, Kjeld Slot.
Nature has always been a great source of inspiration for artists throughout the world and is, still today, a great source of fascination, wonder and admiration for many contemporary artists. With work by 11 international artists, FLORA offers not only a fresh approach to nature and the flora of life but also a composite picture of contemporary, international glass with all its variation, imagination and creativity. At the same time, the garden is included as an extra perspective, excitingly designed by skilled garden experts.
The exhibition
In Glasmuseet’s new wing French artist, Marcoville, has created a magical atmosphere with his Glass Forest, which consists of large palm trees with clusters of yellow bananas and baobab trees. From here the exhibition continues into the older part of the museum, where an abundance of contemporary glass from USA, Canada, UK, Japan, Sweden and Denmark is presented: green cauliflower and cabbage leaves, colourful orchids, fragile plant seeds, silver coloured seeds, abstract wall objects and beautiful poppy vessels and much more. The exhibition ends – or starts – in the museum garden, depending on one’s temperament. Here among the compactly shaped flowerbeds in the garden, we find glass sculptures by the Polish artist, Monika Rubaniuk in harmony with the outdoor surroundings.
The garden
In connection with the exhibition, artist and garden architect Kjeld Slot has totally re-designed the museum’s garden taking the classical building from 1921 and the new wing from 2006 into respect. The basic principle of the design is a grid, which defines a plain and simple system of square plots: all in all 13 (9m2) flowerbeds with varying plants for example parsley/tagetis, cauliflower/thistles, Rose de Recht, herbs and Himalaya birch, and three larger squares with meadow grasses. Throughout the summer the garden will develop from week to week, as the various flowerbeds spring into life.
Extended programme with activities
During the exhibition period there will be many opportunities to learn more about glass and horticulture. The museum has put together a wide range of activities centered around glass and horticulture. On 5 separate Sundays from April to September, professional flower decorators will create beautiful bouquets, in July, Kjeld Slot will give a guided tour in the garden with good advice about garden design and in September, guests are invited to taste delicious home brewed Aquavit using herbs. Every first Sunday of the month there is a free guided tour of the exhibition and garden.
The full programme of activities can be seen here.
Furthermore, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft can put together special arrangements with guided tours for groups throughout the year. Please contact the museum for further information.
The exhibition and garden can be seen from 27th March – 29th September 2010.
Artists, represented in the exhibition: Ulla Forsell, Sweden Kimiake Higuchi, Japan Angela Jarman, UK Finn Lynggaard, Denmark Marcoville, France Debora Moore, USA Stacey Neff, USA Colin Rennie, UK Monika Rubaniuk, Poland Amy Rueffert, USA Karli Sears, Canada | The exhibition has been supported by: Augustinus Fonden Canada Council for the Arts Knud Højgaards Fond Lindberg A/S Margrethe og Johs. F. la Cours Fond Nykredits Fond Toyota Fonden Glasmuseets Venner |
• Press images in high resolution can be downloaded here
• Exhibition catalogue can be required.
For further information, please contact:
Executive Director Dagmar Brendstrup, phone: +45 86 34 17 99 / +45 23 23 52 54, E-mail: dab@glasmuseet.dk or
Pia Strandbygaard Frandsen, Communication and PR, phone: +45 86 34 17 99 / +45 40 32 19 93,
E-mail: psf@glasmuseet.dk
