“Van Gogh’s Flowers,” an exhibit showcasing the flowery beauty and color of some of the artist’s famous works, is currently on display, now through October 26, at the the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), located at 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. The exhibit alone is worth the trip for your entire family.
Next to Van Gogh’s paintings, there are botanical displays along with contemporary art by Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski of Graphic Rewilding, sculptor Amie Jacobsen, and immersive artist Cyril Lancelin. These works include both real and sculptural sunflowers that visitors can walk through while gazing at bright and beautiful, larger-than-life yellow sunflowers, big and small, in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Inside the exhibit, you can pose in front of artist Amy Jacobson’s three-dimensional sculptures inspired by Van Gogh’s expressive pieces of irises, imperial fritillaries, oleanders, and roses with walls of selfie-worthy living plants in the background. You’ll also find the hospital of Arles that Van Gogh painted in 1889; this painting comes to life in a magnificent rendition of living flowers and architectural elements.
Amie J. Jacobson, a designer, sculpture, and public artist, learned metal-working as an in-house designer and resident artist at Machine Head, a metal fabrication shop in the Crossroads Art district in Kansas City. Her detailed work of flower arrangements resembling Van Gogh’s paintings, shown in vases throughout the exhibit, was awesome.
Renee Minus White/A Time To Style photos
NYBG offers special complementary daytime programming on select dates during the exhibit. Engaging interactive experiences, such as “Plain Air Drop-In and Paint,” encourages NYBG visitors to experience drawing sunflowers, or whatever they want to create, with water and a paint brush. Kids as well as adults enjoy this feature. Their paintings evaporate as soon as the water dries, and the blackboard is ready for the next new artist. Folks are inspired to see nature as Van Gogh did.
From 7:30-10:30 p.m. on select Friday or Saturday nights, NYBG introduces Starry Nights, a dazzling display of the Van Gogh exhibit viewed in the glow of the evening. Music and performers, and drinks and food will be available to purchase. Depending on conditions, a 1-minute after-dark Van Gogh themed drone show finale — a New York City first, at a cultural institution — brings the Starry Nights to life before your eyes.
For more information about “Van Gogh’s Flowers,” and to purchase tickets, visit nybg.org. To purchase tickets for Starry Nights, visit feverup.com.