Bird condos, community living, penthouses and row houses. Come experience "Homes for Birds" a visually beautiful, bounty of one-of-a-kind bird houses created by regional and international artists and craftsmen and curated by fine art dealer Joyce Nereaux. "Homes for Birds" will be unveiled at the Berkshire Botanical Garden's Season opening celebration Saturday, May 3, 2008, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts from 10:am to 5pm. Children's activities, garden tours, Mai Bowle, and a special display of student birdhouses contributed by Mt. Everett and Monument Mountain High School seniors and will be on display at the opening celebration.
The first exhibition in the Berkshire Botanical Garden 2008 series, "The Nurturing Garden for Birds, Bees, Butterflies and Best Friends," focuses on birdhouses; those intriguing structures that not only provide a nesting place for birds but also delight the eye and the imagination of the garden visitor. A large selection of nesting structures will be placed throughout the Berkshire Botanical Garden's flourishing paths and lanes. Some are highly imaginative; some basically practical, some whimsical -yet all inviting to one of several species of birds native to the Northeast. Birdhouse artist Karl Goldsmith will be lending his hand-crafted birdhouses, architectural reproductions of historic buildings made of reclaimed lumber. Vintage and artist designed bird houses will also be on loan from Hedstrom & Judd and The Secret Garden, in Hudson, NY and from Tom Dukich, in Washington State, and others.
The exhibition provides nesting places for Purple Martins, Doves, Blue Birds, Wrens and other species that use houses to hatch their young. "We value the birdhouses as decorative elements in the garden, as well as nurturing elements," says Joyce Nereaux. "These special structures range in material from copper to wood, and in style from rustic to interpretations of various architectural forms and periods." An avid gardener herself, Joyce maintains six creative birdhouses at her home near Hudson, New York. For over 35 years, Joyce has been a gallery owner and fine art dealer working on shows for Rauschenberg, Dine, Morris, Nauman and many other major artists.
"'Homes for Birds" will both inspire and educate," says BBG Executive Director, John Parker. "This season our Nurturing Garden theme will illustrate the importance of our connection to nature and help visitors find successful ways to nurture the environment and themselves."
The Garden's Annual Plant Sale, May 9-10, will offer specialty plants attracting birds, bees and butterflies, along with succulents for reduced water consumption. On June 7, the Garden will unveil "Cultivate" an exhibition of ten newly commissioned works of art created exclusively for the Berkshire Botanical Garden. "Cultivate" is a season-long exhibition and a companion to MASS MoCA's new spring show "Badlands," both will be curated by Denise Markonish.
"Homes for Birds" and opening season activities are free with Garden admission of $7.00 for adults, $5 for seniors and free to members and children under 18. Select birdhouses will be available for purchase. For further information contact: 413-298-3926 or visit www.berkshirebotanical.org.
Photo Link: http://www.studiotwo.com/gallery/BBG08Birdhouse
Please select from the listed resolutions beneath each thumbnail and right-click to download(right-click and "save file as" or "download photo", OR, click once for a preview image, click again for a hi-res file and download from your browser. Please credit to Kevin Sprague.
