A New California Garden on the Stanford Campus

Stanford, CA, March 12, 2003—A contemporary native plant garden with sculpted terrain is being permanently installed on the Stanford campus in connection with the exhibition The Changing Garden: Four Centuries of European and American Art on view June 11 to September 7, 2003. Located at the northwest corner of Roth Way and Lomita Drive, it faces the Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden. An anonymous donor has made possible this exciting project.

The area has been designed by Meg Webster, who was selected by the Stanford University President's Panel on Outdoor Art with input from the Cantor Arts Center. The focal point of her design is a central rounded depression surrounded by two berms into which Webster has shaped concrete undulating benches for, in her words, "viewing, rest, and study. They are meant to be objects within the landscape and to draw the viewer to them giving a sense of place and human scale. . . I want the viewer to be encircled and held by the earth. The planting of many species of native plants ties the work to the past, to place and to Nature. One is intended to feel some touch with Earth, California and Nature within this piece."

In late November 2002, just before the winter rains, wild forms and selected hybrids of California natives were planted. The mix of shrubs, perennials, grasses, bulbs, and annuals were selected by Webster for their texture, color, and beauty, as well as for their interest to casual visitors and native plant experts. She notes that "the shade wet areas, dominated by the redwoods, are planted with huckleberry, yerba buena and leopard lily; the sun wet areas with wild roses and coffeeberry. Most of the ground, including the berms and the grass meadows, is sun dry region. . . . There are also natural wet places created by low areas in the topography. Here are planted reed and monkeyflower." Her intention is to create an educational exhibition as well as laboratory for such plants while adhering to her artistic vision. In her words, "The work strives to make a place of intimacy with the plants, to provide a means for learning about them."

RELATED PROGRAMS
The Cantor Arts Center presents special programming in conjunction with The Changing Garden exhibition. For tour information, call 650-723-3469. For information about programs and classes, call 650-725-3155. Most programs are FREE.

Summer Concerts
Musical Images from Nature
Elaine Thornburgh, harpsichordist
Thursday, July 17, 7 pm, FREE
Cantor Arts Center auditorium

A Relaxing Evening of Jazz
Anton Schwartz Quartet
Thursday, August 21, 7-9pm, FREE
Cantor Arts Center south lawn

Wired Gardens
Interactive multimedia performance by Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics
Sunday, September 7, 2 pm, FREE
Cantor Arts Center and surrounding gardens

Storytelling at the Center
Storytelling in the galleries, for visitors of all ages
Sunday, July 20, 11-4 pm, FREE

Twilight Films at the Center
All films begin at dusk; Cantor Arts Center south lawn; FREE
Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy feature films under the stars.

Thursday, July 31
The Secret Garden (1993; 102 minutes)
Directed by Agnieszka Holland; starring Maggie Smith, Kate Maberly. Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story of a young girl who is orphaned and sent to England to live in her uncle's gloomy estate. She befriends the young brother of a staff maid and her uncle's sickly son, and the three children discover and restore a neglected garden on the grounds of the estate, bringing it and in the process, themselves, to life, healing, and hope.

Thursday, August 7
Greenfingers (2000; 90 minutes)
Directed by Joel Hershman; starring Helen Mirren and Clive Owen. Loosely based upon true events, Greenfingers is the story of British prison convicts discovering reform and redemption through gardening. As their skills and talents improve, they eventually compete in the prestigious Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Thursday, August 14
Edward Scissorhands (1990; 105 minutes)
Directed by Tim Burton; starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, and Vincent Price. A story of tolerance, difference, and creativity, a boy/monster named Edward has large shears for hands. Although useful as tools for making topiary and cutting hair, Edward must try to find his place in the suburban community.

Tours of the Exhibition and Stanford Gardens
Docent Tours of the Exhibition The Changing Garden Thursdays 12:15 pm plus Saturdays and Sundays 2 pm, from June 12 through September 7 No reservations necessary, FREE. Special group tours must be booked in advance. Call 650-723-3469 to arrange.

Stanford Gardens Tour Guided tour of gardens on campus, including the new sculpted landscape of native plants. Second and fourth Sundays of each month from June 22 to August 24, FREE. For information, call 650-723-3469.

Afternoon Tea and Exhibition Tours Guided tour of the exhibition for groups of 10-20 followed by afternoon tea in the Center's Cool Cafe.
Thursdays, June 19-September 4, at 1:30 and 3 pm, $20 per person

Reservations and payment required four to six weeks in advance; call 650-723-3469

Dance Performance
Along the River
Choreographed and directed by Karin Cabello-Moriarty
Sunday, July 27, 5 pm, FREE
At the Center's outdoor sculpture Stone River by Andy Goldsworthy This performance celebrates the fusion of dance and art. The movements are inspired by the serpentine character of the sculpture, and the interaction between light, movement, and patterns creates a magic journey for the audience. Performers include dancers from DanceVisions, the Dance-Is-It Group, and dancers from the Santa Cruz area accompanied by live music by Herb Moore.

Adventures in Art: Pebbles, Plants, and Paint
Sunday, June 22, noon-3 pm
Cantor Arts Center north lawn
Fee, registration required; call 650-724-3600
The third annual Family Day with interactive art activities for pre-school through elementary age children includes a grilled lunch from Chili's. Participants create garden theme and other art projects using a variety of natural materials. Family Day is organized by the Center's Next Generation group.

Summer Classes
Making Ceramics and Tiles with Garden Motifs
Classes for children and adults; Fee, registration required; call 650-725-3155