New Descanso Gardens exhibit Explores Intersection of Art and Nature

'Days of Reverie' features works by four Los Angeles artists inspired by garden's landscapes
Published on Oct 9, 2024

A new exhibition at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California, aims to blend art and nature in a unique showcase opening later this month. The show, titled “Days of Reverie,” will feature works by four Los Angeles-based artists inspired by the garden’s lush landscapes.

Opening on Oct. 25, at the Sturt Haaga Gallery in Descanso Gardens, the exhibition will run through Jan. 26, 2025. It will present a variety of artistic media, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and site-specific installations, all created over the past year.

Curator Vojislav Radovanović has brought together artists Catherine Ruane, Debbie Korbel, Jason Jenn, and Jill Sykes for the exhibition.

Their works explore themes of environmental fragility and resilience, reflecting on the changing seasons and Earth’s ecosystems.

“It connects the natural beauty of Descanso Gardens itself with artistic renderings of its flora and fauna in a museum-quality show,” said writer Genie Davis in the exhibition catalogue. She elaborated on the experience, noting “the soothing promise of quiet hours spent listening to the rustling of wind in the leaves and the songs of birds, drinking in the fragrance of flowers, trees, and grasses, and experiencing the caress of branches and sunlight.”

The exhibition will feature solo presentations by each artist, including Ruane’s “Botany of Desire” drawings, Korbel’s “In the Still of the Night” site-specific installations, Jenn’s “Arboreal Soul” site-specific installation, and Sykes’ “Between Light and Shadow” paintings. Guest artist Joseph Carrillo will contribute an original musical composition titled “The Dreaming Forest” to complement the visual artworks.

Juliann Rooke, CEO of Descanso Gardens, praised the exhibition’s alignment with the institution’s mission.

“This exhibition is a perfect reflection of what Descanso Gardens stands for — bringing art and nature together in a way that feels seamless and organic,” she said.

An opening reception for “Days of Reverie” is scheduled for Nov. 2, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the gallery is included with entrance to Descanso Gardens, which costs $15 for adults and $11 for seniors and students.

Descanso Gardens, founded as a public garden in 1953, is a member-supported institution open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The garden is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Descanso Gardens at 1418 Descanso Dr.,  in La Cañada Flintridge.

For more information call (818) 949-4206 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org/

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