Arnold Arboretum 2012

Enjoying the Arboretum 2012

Reception for "Looking Closely" Arboretum Exhibit

Each autumn, the Arnold Arboretum hosts an art contest and exhibit which consists of artworks that embrace the beauty and spirit of nature.   In 2012, the name of the exhibit was "Looking Closely."   The exhibit kicked off on Wednesday, September 19 with a reception at the Hunnewell Building.   Selected paintings and their creators and friends gathered to enjoy refreshments and take in the show.

The show runs from September 19 through November 18, 2012.



Arboretum Paint Out - Hunnewell Building

If you have never been to Arnold Arboretum, it is well worth the trip, especially if you enjoy identifying trees.   Occupying 265 acres, the Arboretum’s living collection of trees, shrubs, and woody vines is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and best documented of its kind in the world. The living collection is supported by comprehensive curatorial documentation, herbaria containing more than 1.3 million specimens, extensive library and archival holdings, and a 43,000-square-foot state-of-the-art research center. These facilities and holdings, along with 75 full-time staff, provide the basis for research and education by Harvard faculty and students, Arboretum scholars, and visiting scientists from around the world. Investigations focus on examining plant diversity from genomic, developmental, organismic, evolutionary, and ecosystem perspectives.  As if an art show wasn't enough!

Hunnewell Building at Arboretum

I arrived at the Arboretum later in the afternoon on the day of the reception.  The September shadows were creeping long across the green stretches.    I set up facing northwest looking at the Hunnewell Building, the location of the art show.  The shadows on the brick looked more warm than blue, so that was the scheme I commit to.  Cognitively I knew the brick was red.   What color was it to my eye though?   I made a peephole viewer with my hand and decided it was a cool pink color (permanent rose, terra rosa, white), and it was brighter and lighter in some places (a dash of lemon yellow added to cool pink) where it was directly illuminated by the late afternoon sun.  I'm not crazy about this one, maybe because there is nothing interesting going on.   Perhaps I'll add some people playing on the lawn at some point.   For now, here it is.