August 13, 2009 7:41 AM
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has received a grant for $40,000 from the federal National Endowment for the Arts.
The grant money, awarded July 23, will support the residency of Herb Parker, an American artist, and educational and public programs accompanying Mr. Parker's installation.
During the months of May and June, Mr. Parker was a temporary resident of the Botanic Garden.
Throughout his stay he invented and constructed a large-scale temporary environmental sculpture. Composed of plants native to California, the most recent work by Mr. Parker, titled "Labyrinth: Haven," can be viewed at the Meadow. This intricate maze offers an aesthetic and sensory-filled experience. Visitors are invited by paths covered in flowers to explore the interior that constantly changes its pattern of lights. Visitors may also discover the courtyard at the center of the maze and enjoy the carved stone seating available as well as the surrounding garden.
Mr. Parker's creations are molded from natural materials including sod, wood, and stone. He uses these natural materials in his work, in hopes of reflecting the belief of painter Marc Chagall that "great art picks up where nature ends."
Commenting on his materials of choice, Mr. Parker stated, "My nature-based installations are created to enhance a viewer's perception of the environment and our relationship with nature."
Pleased and grateful with the work of Mr. Parker, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden President Dr. Ed Schneider said, "We believe that, in the aftermath of the destructive Jesusita fire, it was important to fulfill our commitment to install this wonderful work as a testament to the future -- that the garden and the community will grow and thrive again."
Dr. Schneider added, "This extraordinary sculpture continues a long ... tradition of art in the garden."
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