NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

Oak Spring Garden Foundation on Google Arts & Culture

30/7/2017

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation has made some of its collection available online via a collaboration with Google Arts & Culture. This will be of great interest to those (like me) who are enthusiastic about the history of botanical art.

The Foundation was created by Bunny Mellon who was one of the richest women in the world and who died in 2014 age 103. (Learn more about Bunny Mellon)

The Foundation's collection comprises a collection of over 16,000 objects, including rare books, manuscripts, and works of art dating back to the 14th century
these mainly relate to horticulture, landscape design, botany, natural history and voyages of exploration
It's been described as one of the most compelling horticultural repositories in the nation
The foundation is open to researchers by appointment only.

Oak Spring Farm was the former home of the Mellons and comprised a 4,000-acre estate, in Upperville, Virginia. The farm has now been sold along with other items from her estate

However, her prized collection of books, manuscripts and art on plants, gardens, and landscapes is now housed in The Oak Spring Garden Library within a 263-acre estate which helps to perpetuate her memory.

Oak Spring Garden Foundation on Google Arts & Culture

OSGF is dedicated to inspiring and facilitating scholarship and public dialogue on the history and future of plants, including the culture of gardens and landscapes and the importance of plants for human well-being.

A small sample of the images now available to view on Oak Spring Garden Foundation on Google Arts

The display on the Oak Spring Garden Foundation Page on Google Arts & Culture includes:

166 items - of which 127 items relate to plants (with a lot of original watercolours from A Curious Herbal by Elizabeth Blackwell)
2 exhibits - widescreen videos about women botanical artists and related items in the collection (Note: The video while impressive on the website is much, much better on Google Arts & Culture and my 27" screen - I very much recommend you take a look!)

The first video Women Botanical Artists includes:

Maria Sibylla Merian 1647-1717
Johanna Helena Herolt 1668-1721 (Merian's daughter)
Barbara Regina Dietzsch (1706-1783)
Elizabeth Blachrie Blackwell (1707-1758)
Lydia Byam (1722-unknown) - a British botanical watercolourist living on Antigua
Lise Cloquet (1788-1860) a French botanical painter influenced by Redoute
Lady Anna Brassey nee Allnutt (1838-1887)

Women Artists Part 2 covers:

Anna Maria Hussey (1805-1853) aka Mrs Thomas Jonathan Hussey - a British mycologist, who focused on researching and painting fungi
Henrietta Maria Moriarty (unknown - early 19th century) - who produced Henrietta Moriarty’s Viridarium Fifty Plates of Green-house Plants, Drawn and Coloured from Nature. with Concise Descriptions, and Rules for their Culture (1806)
Sarah Matilda Parry (fl. 1818-1850) illustrated Fruits from the Garden of Summer Hill
Dorothea Eliza Smith (1804-1864) - painted in Peru and illustrated the Fruits of Lima
Dame Anne Hamilton (unknown) - an obvious admirer of Ehret
Lady Frances Howard (unknown)
Elizabeth and Margaret Wharton (unknown)

Research at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Beginning in January 2018 we are able to offer free overnight accommodation on the Oak Spring estate for bona fide scholars wishing to study material in the Oak Spring Garden Library collections. Since we are only able to accommodate a limited number of scholars at any given time, we will probably need to prioritize our visitors based on timing and topics.
Work with the Oak Spring Garden's Collection

If you'd like to visit, you can find the Oak Spring Garden Foundation at 1776 Loughborough Lane, Upperville, VA 20184, USA.

You need to send a brief proposal

outlining your interest in visiting the Oak Spring Garden Library,
the goal of your work as it relates to plants, gardens and landscapes
complete the short online form

You can also find the form and other ways of engaging with OSGF at www.OSGF.org/opportunities.

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Exhibiting with the RHS - on a tradestand

20/7/2017

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I'm going to be back at RHS Hyde Hall in early August for the RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show - (3-6 August 2017). This year it has an expanded Artists’ Pavilion featuring more exhibitors - including Janie Pirie GM SBA

Botanical artists would be well advised to study the opportunities for exhibiting at the various RHS Flower Shows around the UK - but note that

not all shows and events have scope for the exhibition of botanical art (on a trade stand)
you have to apply for a stand well in advance of the show - there's a long lead time.
the RHS then vet you - via the documentation and evidence of business standing you provide and your online presence.

Information for the RHS application form

Botanical artists can apply for a trade stand within the non-horticultural products category. There are a range of tradestand sizes available and all exhibits are under cover - so you don't need to invest in a tent etc.

This is the page which outlines how to apply for a tradestand

Artists who are new to the RGS Shows need to provide the following information:

Details about your company and your products/services
Details of how long you have been in business
Any non-RHS events you have participated in
Your website address
Photographs of your products/services or stands at other non-RHS events
Any other background information you may think is relevant

In other words, they are looking for relevant and reputable businesses run by experienced and business-like people - who can provide added value for visitors to their shows.

These are NOT shows to go to and exhibit for the very first time - you need some experience in showing on your own elsewhere. Like anything else in life don't apply for and pitch for "the best" before you are ready.

If you want to get to Chelsea you need to first exhibit at another RHS Show and provide documentation of what your stand looked like and what you sold - which essentially means you have to go to the non-Chelsea show with a standard of artwork and display "as if" you are exhibiting at Chelsea - if you want to impress!

Note also that "doing a show" is not for the faint-hearted and you will need back-up and support to deliver a good display and service on your stand.

You also need to note that the non-horticultural category is very much over-subscribed and hence you need to be able to demonstrate high quality and some aspect of being different from everybody else.

Tradestand selection critiera

Understanding what you need to do to apply is only the first step. You then need to know and meet the standards expected of your trade stand in terms of selection and being able to apply again! Plus what items are not allowed and what needs special permission.

The manual (for the recent Chatsworth Flower Show in June 2017) states the following:

Tradestand selection criteria
Applications with a well-planned and high quality stand will be given preference. The following criteria will be applied to the selection of tradestand exhibitions
* relevance and quality of the product
* suitability of the product for the theme of the show/show audience
* balance of product categories within the show
* Permanent business address, quality website, clear contact details
* Courteous, professional and friendly staff; sufficient staffing levels during show hours
* Good after-sales service including order fulfilment
* RHS Awards record & support for RHS Shows
* Absence of complaints made to RHS and compliance with RHS Regulations
* Prompt payment of show invoices
* Geographical relevance

There is also a Code of Conduct for all exhibitors which must be observed.

Plus they also rate all trade stands for the standard of exhibit presentation.

Botanical artists at RHS Flower Shows

Below are some of the botanical artists who have had trade stands at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. They include

Linda Alexander ROI SBA (Facebook Page) - a botanical oil painter who has been exhibiting at RHS Chelsea since 2007. You can see a short video of what Main Avenue at RHS Chelsea is like re. the crowds on Linda's Facebook Page
Ann Swan GM SBA (Facebook Page) - a botanical coloured pencil artist who has regularly exhibited at RHS Chelsea
Bryan Poole RE - a botanical fine art printer (he produces etchings) who exhibited at RHS Chelsea between 2001 and 2008 - see The Telegraph article Chelsea Flower Show 2008: A cut above the competition

It's interesting that all the artists listed above

pursue media for their botanical art which is NOT watercolour and
they are all artists who are very experienced and have already achieved a lot in their art careers BEFORE they first exhibited at Chelsea.

Linda Alexander ROI SBA at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2017 - her stand won a Three Star rating meaning this ranks as a high quality presentation

Recovering now from the Chelsea Flower Show. It was such a successful show despite the economic and political nervousness. What a lovely crowd, cheerful, positive and enjoying the sunshine and beautiful gardens. Loved every minute despite the long hours and sheer exhaustion of it all. What a privilege to be there.
Linda Alexander - on her Facebook Page

These are also artists whose work "sings out" from inside a booth to those walking up and down the pathways at a show. I know from having visited Chelsea during the show that a booth needs to be filled with original and colourful artwork to catch the eye of the very many visitors - and while you want to sell as much as you can, you also must not sell out fast and deplete your stand which needs to look good throughout the show!

It's actually very much akin to having a solo art exhibition if you want to make a profit on the cost of having a trade stand - which is not cheap!

Bryan Poole at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2008

How to apply

The details of how to apply to exhibit at an RHS Show are provided on the Tradestand Non-Horticultural Page

Trade Stands

RHS London Shows (throughout the year): biased towards horticultural products (except at the Botanical Art Show - which has trade stands by Botanical Art Educators and pop-up studios by artists). For more information please contact Exhibitor applications.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival (May) / RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (early July) / RHS Flower Show Tatton Park (mid-July): email Louise Duckett about the opportunity for stands within the Pavilions.
RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show: (early August) - new expanded Artists Pavilion - contact Hyde Hall events
RHS Wisley Flower Show (early September) contact Wisley events
RHS Harlow Carr Flower Show (June): contact Harlow Carr events (no pavilion - which doesn't mean there won't be one in future!)
RHS Rosemoor Flower Show: 2017 is the first ever show in the South West and there is nothing on page and it looks like there is nothing under cover in a pavilion - but try contacting Rosemoor events after the show in September and see whether they might be doing anything next year
Malvern Autumn Show: Countryside Shopping Pavilion find out more details.

Botanical Art (Medal exhibition) - assessed by Picture Committee

RHS London Botanical Art Show: Botanical Art and Photography. See my special page for those wanting to exhibit for medals. You must first contact the Picture committee with examples of your work. Once approved to exhibit by the picture panel, you have five years to prepare your display and exhibit. Enquiries about upcoming shows contact Exhibitor applications.

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The Best Botanical Wind Sculpture ever!

19/7/2017

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Yesterday I saw what I think might be the best botanical wind sculpture I've ever seen.

RHS Hyde Hall in Essex has a Kinetic Sculpture of two seeds made by David Watkinson. Just watch my video below to see how it works (or watch the HD version on my YouTube Channel)

My Sculpture is often about form and movement, whether actual movement through space or implied. The Kinetic Sculpture may be delicately balanced on precision bearings, where small air currents cause large forms to tip and move in reaction, carving a path through space before returning to a balanced position.

The large organic forms are a more direct homage to Mother Nature and the wonders of evolution, allowing us momentarily to escape the confines of life and it’s hectic pace.
David Watkinson

The sycamore seeds move entirely on the basis of the direction and speed of the wind. The movement is assisted by the use of precision ball bearings and delicate weighting by the sculptor.

It is a joy to watch. I want a garden on a ridge and some wind and I'd be happy watching it for hours!

Kinetic Sycamore Seed Win Sculpture by David Watkinson - as seen at the top of the Millennium Avenue at RHS Hyde Hall on 18th July 2017

NOTE: RHS Hyde Hall is an expanding RHS Garden at Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8RA

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Botanical Artists of Canada celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary

7/7/2017

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The Botanical Artists of Canada are celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary with an exhibition of Native and Indigeous Plants. Last night was the Opening Reception.

Dates: July 5 to 26, 2017
Venue: Robert Langen Art Gallery, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario. The gallery is open: Monday - Friday 8.30am - 7pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am - to 5.30pm.

The exhibition aims to:

depict native and indigenous plants of Canada.
celebrate the existence, beauty, uniqueness and diversity of Canada’s native and indigenous plants (including fungi);
connect people with plants and botanical art through the artist’s creative expression;
inform the public of how native plants sustain our lives, habitat and the natural world.

[I'm happy to add photos of the exhibition into this post if anybody would like to send me some.]

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