By Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region
Go to the Anthenaeum
Preserving Our Heritage:
Native and Heirloom Plants
Anthenaeum
North Virginia Fine Arts Association
November 13, 2014 – January 4, 2015
Each year, the artists of the Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region (BASNCR) hold at least one juried exhibition in the Washington area to promote awareness of botanical art as a living art form. BASNCR artists work in a variety of media including the traditional watercolor on paper, as well as ink, graphite, gouache, colored pencil, oil, and silverpoint.
This year’s exhibition, Preserving Our Heritage, will be held at the Athenaeum in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The exhibition opens on November 13, 2014 and continues through January 3, 2015. Susan Frei Nathan of Susan Frei Nathan Fine Works on Paper juried the exhibition. Susan has over two decades of experience evaluating botanical art, and is a passionate expert and champion of botanical artwork.
The exhibition offers the artists of BASNCR an opportunity to showcase their favorite native or heirloom plants. There are a variety of definitions for both types of plants. A generally accepted definition for a native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention.
Some define heirloom plants in terms of the length of time a cultivar has been grown, or its existence before a specific date (e.g., 1951). Some use heirloom in its traditional sense and define an heirloom plant as a cultivar that has been handed down from one family or group member to another for many generations.
Whatever the definition for either category of plant, BASNCR artists each have favorite plants that they grow or admire (or anguish over not being able to grow), and will present them in their artwork at the Athenaeum.
Participating Artists:
- Ann Baker
- Carol Tudor Beach
- Judy Brown
- Tina Thieme Brown
- Esther Carpi
- Anne Clippinger
- Karen Coleman
- Jane Dowling
- Lee Boulay D’Zmura
- Bonnie Driggers
- Joan Ducore
- Mary Elcano
- Margaret McPherson Farr (Betsy)
- Lara Gastinger
- Gail Harwood
- Mary Page Hickey
- Juliet Kirby
- Jerry Kurtzweg
- Pamela Mason
- Elena Maza-Borkland
- Linda C. Miller
- Marsha Ogden
- Berit Robertson
- Mary Jane Zander
An opening reception will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2014 from 4-6 pm.
Gallery Hours:
Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 12–4 pm and Saturdays from 1–4 pm.
The Athenaeum is closed on holidays. Admission to the gallery is free.
ArtPlantae Today 