Bigleaf Magnolia Art and Garden Festival

UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens’ inaugural “Bigleaf Magnolia Art and Garden Festival” is a celebration of many different approaches to creating art in, about, and for gardens. If you missed this year’s event, you can check out the classes and workshops below and start planning for next year!

Click here to see 2019 Photography Contest Winners

 

Click here to see 2019 Garden Totem Winners

 

Call to Artists and Entry Form- Garden Art Totems

Call to Artists and Entry Form – Photography Contest

A collaboration between regional artists, art instructors, gardeners, the community, and UNC Charlotte Art Department, this is a special event showcasing the intersection of art and plants!  View a wide variety of interpretations of “garden art” and “botanical art”:  painted and drawn flower “portraits”,  sculptures and fiber art from natural materials, ceramics with botanical textures, garden totems, art integrated into our Van Landingham Garden, plein air landscape paintings, and more.  

The event will include multiple art exhibits: an exhibit of winning images from our first Gardens’ macro-photography contest (“Through Butterfly Eyes”), several installation art pieces, and a wide variety of artist-decorated garden totems throughout our seven (7) acre woodland garden.  In addition, there will be several adult art workshops,  a silent auction of the garden totems on view, and a special kids’ afternoon with family garden tours and garden-art crafts.

 

The festival kicks-off with an opening reception of exhibits and garden totems from 6 – 8 pm Friday, May 17 at UNC Charlotte.  Exhibits will remain open through the festival and continue to be on view through mid-June.

On Saturday, May 18, from 9 am – 4 pm, The Gardens will offer several adult art workshops (registration required) and encourage artists to come to the gardens and greenhouse to draw and paint (please sign in at the greenhouse and follow our garden policies found here: https://gardens.uncc.edu/visiting-the-gardens/etiquettepolicies/.  Adult workshops will include Creating and Using a Nature Sketch Book, Eco-Printing Silk Scarves: Playing with Nature’s Colors, Botany for Artists and Gardeners, Plein Air Painting, Macrophotography notecards, Nature Weaving, Botanical Fabric Printing for Home Decor.

Sunday, May 19, from 1 – 4 pm, families will be invited to go on a “Treasure Hunt” through Van Landingham Glen to discover our installation art and garden totems.  Classes for kids will be offered. Registration links will be available beginning March 15.  In addition, kids may visit drop-in creation stations to make various pieces of garden art, including “spider catchers”, wind chimes, and painted garden rocks, plant prints.  However, donations of $2 per craft per child are encouraged. (while supplies last).  The family treasure hunt is free.  

Artists interested in participating in the event (submitting work to the macrophotography contest, donating garden totems for our silent auction, creating temporary installations in the gardens, or drawing/painting in the gardens during the festival) can find information here beginning March 15.  Questions may also be directed to AmyTipton@uncc.edu with “Garden Arts” in the subject line.

 

Macro Photography  Contest

“Through Butterfly Eyes”

  

We are seeking submissions for our first annual photography contest as part of our inaugural Bigleaf Magnolia Art and Garden Festival.  The theme for this year’s contest is “Through Butterfly Eyes: The Big World of Macro Photography”. We want you to get up close with the beautiful, interesting, and curious world of botanicals to create photos which will both delight and enlighten our garden visitors.

Links for guidelines and entry forms for the contest : https://gardens.uncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/03/Call-to-A

  

Painting the Garden: A Plein Air Workshop

    

Date: Saturday, May 18th,  9am – 12pm

Instructor: Jen Spaker, Fine Artist

Come paint the gardens! This class is suitable for beginner to advanced artists. Jennifer Spaker, a talented local artist will be leading a three hour plein air (painting outside) class beginning with a half hour demonstration. She will be there to guide you through the process, provide assistance, tips, and techniques as you complete your own masterpiece painted in our very own Harwood Gardens! 

Jen paints in both oil and acrylics so feel free to paint in the medium you prefer. She has provided a suggested supply list for both oil and acrylics. You are welcome to bring your own supplies, however if you are new to painting, we have a supply package available (acrylic paint only) that includes paint, palette paper, paint retarder, and easel. You just supply your own brushes and canvas! This is a great way to save on the cost of paint (which can get expensive for good quality paint) and “try before you buy”!
To learn more about Jen and see some of her amazing work:
http://jenspaker.com/

 

 

Through Butterfly Eyes: Making Art from Cellphone Macro-photography

*all photos taken by Wendy or by previous class participants

Date: Saturday, May 18, 1 – 4 pm

Instructor: Wendy Wilson, Adult Education Coordinator, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

Inspired by our Macro Photography Contest? Learn how to take stunning close up macro photographs using just your cell phone! Class includes a lens (no adhesives or mounting strips required), a tutorial on how to use the lens to take pictures, a photo shoot, and then using a creative app to turn your photos into art. You will leave the class with 3 art postcards which you can use for mailing, trading, or framing. 

Macro Photography with your Cellphone for Kids and Teens

  

Date: Sunday, May 19, 2:30 – 4 pm

Instructor: Wendy Wilson, Adult Education Coordinator, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

Suitable for ages 9 and up

Take your phone out of selfie mode and really notice the tiny world at your feet! This class comes with a macro lens with 4x magnification (no adhesives or mounting strips required!). Wendy will show you how to install and use the lens to capture amazing photographs you will be proud to display on all your social media!

 

Ink and Watercolor Florals For Kids and Teens

  

Date: Sunday, May 19 1 – 2:30 pm

Instructor: Wendy Wilson, Adult Education Coordinator, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

Wendy can teach you how to go from drawing flowers to sketching them. (she will show you the difference!) After the sketching lesson, students will learn watercolor basics to add color and bring life to their artwork. We will finish with ink detailing to really make the artwork pop! All supplies are included in this class. Students will leave with some new skills, and hopefully the first of many botanical sketches to come!

Create a Mini Garden Art Pole

    

Date: Sunday, May 19,  1 – 2:30 pm

Instructor:  Amy Tipton, Assistant Director UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

We hope our art festival is inspiring you and your family to get creative in the garden! Perhaps you want to recreate our upcoming Garden Art Totem installation in your own garden. Come to Amy’s class to create your own Mini Garden Art Pole. All materials supplied.

Nature Sketchbook Family Class

Are you a family that enjoys spending time in nature? Amy can teach you how to create your own nature sketchbook which can include detailed notes and sketches of the interesting plant and animal life in the outdoors. The good news is you don’t need to take trips to find nature- you can sketch what you find in your own backyards and gardens too! 

Date: Sunday, May 19,  2:30 – 4:00 pm

Instructor:  Amy Tipton, Assistant Director UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

Kids Creation Stations

    

  

Sunday May 19th from 1 – 3pm   *while supplies last

Come to the greenhouse after taking a family hike along our Art Trail in the Van Landingham Glen and visit our Kids Creation Stations where your child can make garden art of their very own. The purpose of garden art is not just for us humans to appreciate. Items with color, food, or motion can either bring in the visitors you want, or perhaps keep out unwanted pests. Stations include:

Butterfly Sipping Station: learn about what they are used for and make a kit to take home and set one up in your very own garden

Water Bottle Wind Spirals: recycle and decorate to create something that twists and turns in the wind (and perhaps keeps critters away from delicate seedlings!)

Garden Spider Web Catchers: spiders are beneficial garden helpers. Create the perfect place for a garden spider to spin their web!

Wind Chimes: enjoy the soft sound of bells as you sit and observe your own garden. 

Painted Rocks: decorate your own rock to welcome all to your garden!