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Arboretum Presents ‘Tree-mendous’ Summer Exhibition
Chanhassen, MN (May 5, 2008) – “Treeology,” a celebration of the wonder and beauty of trees, is the theme of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 2008 summer exhibition and the highlight of a momentous 50th anniversary year for the 1,047-acre University of Minnesota public garden and horticultural research showcase.
Special events will continue year-round, with “Treeology” as the showcase exhibit. “It’s only fitting that we return to our ‘roots’ with the ‘Treeology’ exhibition. There is much to learn about these amazing living beings that shelter and shade us, outlive and outgrow us,” said Arboretum Director Peter J. Olin.
The “Treeology” exhibition, running May 24-Oct. 12, will have the following main components:
· Art ‘n’ Trees Trail. Eighteen juried interactive public-art installations and sculptures, situated along a 1.5-mile tree-lined loop trail, will celebrate the towering beauty and power of trees. Visitors can learn about each artwork via a cell phone-assisted audio tour in the artists’ own voices.
· Grown Home. This whimsical rustic, open-air retreat built of river birch logs contains 12 “living” willow furniture pieces — all planted in place! They include a table and chairs, bedframe and bookshelf.
· Tree-mendous Trees. A living showcase of 15 of the Arboretum’s most outstanding trees and their stories, all shared through signage and an audio tour. See the tallest, oldest, weirdest trees on the Arboretum grounds, as well as favorite large and small tree introductions developed by the university.
· Tree Discovery Zone. Learn all about arboreal wonders and how to care for them at this outdoor discovery lab. Check out the “right way/ wrong way” tree-planting demo for valuable tips. Tree Care Advisors will be available to answer your tree-care questions 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month this summer – June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, Aug. 2 & 16, Sept. 6 & 20 and Oct. 4 – courtesy of the Hennepin and Carver-Scott County master gardener programs.
ART ‘N’ TREES TRAIL EXHIBIT
The “Art ’n’ Trees Trail” pieces range from a giant metallic twirling maple seed to a large hammock-like “leaf cradle” to a Stonehenge-like fortress called “Treehenge” and much more! Some are serious and thought-provoking; others playful and inspirational. Here’s a preview:
1. “Tree of Luminous Surprises” by Robyn Jensen of Minneapolis. At first glance, the Tree of Luminous Surprises appears as still and unassuming as any living tree. But look a little more closely and you’ll discover little doors along the trunk, revealing a variety of views into the many ways trees contribute to and influence our lives.
2. “1 in 10,000” by Wendy J. Johnson of Saga Hill Designs, Crystal Bay. When an acorn falls, it has a one-in-10,000 chance of becoming a tree. Encompassing a collection of shimmering steel balls, 1 in 10,000 reflects on the 10,000 acorns that were statistical players in the life of this single majestic oak.
3. “Ash Anxiety” by Hennepin Technical College of Brooklyn Park. Visitors can identify the very destructive Emerald Ash Borer pest and learn about the future effect it could have on our environment.
4. “Twelve Terrible Tree-O-Logical Teasers” by James Robin and Ben Erickson of Close Landscape Architecture, Minneapolis. Enjoy a little known and non-horticultural aspect of trees – their unique sense of humor – on an entertaining stroll through the Wildflower Garden.
5. “Twirling Maple Seed” by Mary Carroll of Minneapolis. In this kinetic, wind-powered sculpture, winged maple seeds evoke childhood memories of whirlybirds fluttering to the ground – and imaginary flight.
6. “Breathing Room” by Sally Boyd, Minneapolis. A fundamental quality that trees and humans share is the ability to breathe. Breathing Room reinforces the notion of breathing by allowing air and light to pass through its soft gill-like panels.
7. “The Tree Eye See” by Lindsay Buck and Steven Burzynski, Aesthetica Landscaping Design and Installation, Minneapolis. Look at trees in a whole new way! The Tree Eye See uses a teleidoscope, a hybrid between a telescope and a kaleidoscope, to let visitors view the surrounding environment through a magical, transforming lens.
8.”Temple of Arbology” by Jordan Lockman of Maple Grove. The Temple of Arbology, inspired by the classic proportions of a Greek temple and mythology, celebrates the role of Minnesota trees and their varied personalities.
9. “Tree-Fi-Fo-Fum” by Dan Sjordal and Westwood Professional Services of Eden Prairie.
Experience the wonder of the largest and most magnificent trees in Minnesota – and the nation – by standing in the center and wandering through a dozen “Rings of Kings” in this interactive monument.
10. “Home Sweet Home” by Kim Graper of South St. Paul. This home-like piece creates an imaginary boundary where the trees are the residents and humans are just visiting. Open the door, and experience the tree family’s life and history through photos and – of course – a family tree.
11. “Treehenge” by IOTA/Inland Office for Tomorrow’s Architecture, Minneapolis. The cross-section of a tree trunk reveals concentric layers of cell types, each serving distinct and vital biological purposes. Treehenge is a three-dimensional, mazelike structure for play and a gathering place for storytelling.
12. “Twist” by Annette Walby, Tory Christensen, Hannah Loope of Minneapolis, MN and The Kestrel Design Group. Inspired by a tree’s biomechanics at the cellular level, Twist simulates a tree’s cell structure, which supports the trunk – and the tree’s own weight – through cell tension and compression.
13. “Emergent” by Beth Lowry of Chaska. A tree provides shelter from sun and rain, a shady spot to rest and a place to play in the dappled light of the setting sun. With its sprays of yellow and orange fabric representing shafts of light, Emergent encourages visitors to reflect on their own memories of trees.
14. “Shade Tree” by Jeff Gears, Kevin Hunt, Ingrid Youmans, Erica Larson of Pope Associates, St. Paul. Shade Tree is a large tree-shaped silhouette cut into a free-standing wall. One side of the wall is
covered with green leafy plants; the other is covered with salvaged trees and branches. Sunlight shines through the canopy, all dancing leaves and shadows, and tells a story of a tree’s life.
15. “Tree Shadow” by Elizabeth Scofield Brown of Survival Design, Knoxville. It’s difficult to imagine how a sapling can grow into a 60-foot-tall tree, but the Tree Shadow helps visitors picture just how far a tree has to grow on its journey to adulthood.
16. “Nodding Sentinels” by Dan Noyes of Vesper College, Minneapolis. With their colorful orbs of stained wood nodding toward the shimmering metal troughs below, Nodding Sentinels is inspired by the mountain ash (also known as the Rowan tree) and its brilliant red fruit.
17. “BeWilderedness” by Adam Riddle and Jessie Bauldry, BKV Group, Minneapolis. BeWilderedness sees nature as a “playground for contemplation” and inspires visitors to reflect on solitude, isolation and their connection to the natural world.
18. “Leaf Cradles” by Marjorie Pitz of Martin & Pitz Associates, Minneapolis. Contemplate the overhead tree canopy from oversized “leaf-cradle” hammocks.
The “Treeology” Exhibition is the cornerstone of a year of celebrations marking the Arboretum’s 50th anniversary year and the 100th anniversary of its partner, the University of Minnesota’s Horticultural Research Center. To learn more about this rich legacy, step inside the Oswald Visitor Center’s “Great Hall of Honor” where 51 colorful posters depict the most significant fruit and plant introductions produced by the Horticultural Research Center. They will remain on display all year, through Dec. 31.
Grand opening weekend for the “Treeology” exhibition is the Memorial Day weekend of May 24-27. The “Treeology” exhibition is free with gate admission ($7 adults; ages 15 and under, free and members, free).
“Treeology” sponsors include Bailey Nurseries, The Toro Company, Xcel Energy and the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club. Promotional partners include KARE-11 TV, CBS Radio, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine and Comcast.
Coinciding with “Treeology,” the Arboretum’s very popular Pillsbury Shade Tree Exhibit has been renovated and upgraded. This exhibit offers home gardeners a chance to check out suitable and popular Minnesota trees for their own yards and gardens.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
During the “Treeology” exhibition, visitors can participate in the Arboretum’s free weekly drop-in family fun programs featuring hands-on, nature-based learning. These take place Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Marion Andrus Learning Center and the Under the Oak natural play area.
“Tunes and Tales in the Trees,” a series of free family performances, is offered Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. on the outdoor Trex Deck. The series begins June 5. Bring a picnic and stretch out on the grass; or pre-order a picnic basket by calling 612-624-7173.
Don’t forget to check out our permanent Maze Garden offering fun and challenges for the whole family. Located in the Pine Collection on Three-Mile Drive, the Maze Garden was installed in 2007 and features interlocking pathways lined with evergreens, deciduous shrubs, latticework, bamboo and fabric walls. No one stays lost for long, thanks to a strategically placed Lookout Tower.
For more information on “Treeology” and other events, visit www.arboretum.umn.edu or call 952-443-1400.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest and a premier northern arboretum, is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota and a community and national resource for horticultural and environmental information, research, and public education. It is located 9 miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator. The Arboretum is disability accessible; the buildings and terraces are smoke free.
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