Events

Brookgreen Gardens Announces Summer After-Hours Lighted Art Exhibition

Published

1 year ago

June 2, 2023

Press Release

Tickets are now available for Brookgreen Gardens’ after-hours lighted art exhibition, Summer Light: Art by Night, happening from June 7th through August 26th on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Eleven installations made up of thousands of bulbs will illuminate the garden offering guests an opportunity to see the National Historic Landmark in a new light. Brookgreen’s picturesque landscapes, including the Oak Allée, will come alive with lights and sounds for 24 summer nights.

“We are pleased to announce the return of this exciting and captivating event,” says Page Kiniry, President and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens. “This is the perfect opportunity for guests to immerse themselves and be mesmerized by the stunning landscapes, sculptures, and gardens that Brookgreen has to offer.”

Created by Brookgreen’s public exhibits production and logistics team led by Janet Coen, the same team that designs Nights of a Thousand Candles, the following light installations will be illuminated throughout the sculpture gardens:

Sapphire Twilight: The swaying of over 800 recycled nylon lanterns, suspended from the eight repurposed fence sections that once inhabited the gardens, are reminiscent of the blue sky and puffy clouds of a summer evening.
Fanciful Flora: Walk below 70 beautiful floral spheres reminiscent of Middle Ages floral pomanders, hung from houses’ ceilings to lessen odors, and ward off evil spirits, rendering blessings and good luck to all who passed under them.
The Four Seasons: In Oak Allée, enjoy a symphony of light and sound underscored by Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” perhaps his most famous and oft-performed work. “The Four Seasons” is a set of four violin concertos inspired by the seasonal changes the composer witnessed in Mantua, a region in northwest Italy.
What’s the BUZZZZZZ?: The Children’s Garden comes alive with a celebration of bees. Warren Cline, a Brookgreen Gardens volunteer, built the honeybee topiary.
Moroccan Nights: This exhibit pays homage to the Moorish influences of this garden, with over 100 Moroccan, North African-style lanterns suspended amid the architecture, sculptures, rose bushes, and the 12 palm trees that anchor the garden.
Lightning Bug Jamboree: Over 375 mason jars give the appearance of thousands of fireflies behind the Garden Wall. On warm evenings, look for actual fireflies to join the party!
Rainforest Stroll: Changing colors fill the canopy of the live oaks against peaceful sounds of light rain and frog songs.
Blissful Baubles: Hand-blown glass by Barb and Ed Streeter of Conway Glass is featured in over 70 reeds of light in the pools and over 100 plates and spheres filling the beds and adorning the walls. This area also includes a beautiful new stained-glass panel crafted by Brookgreen volunteer Jim Morris.
Calabash Illumination: Intricately punched Calabash gourds illuminate the night with scenes representing the Gardens’ natural beauty. The 64 gourds were grown in the Children’s Garden passageway by horticulturist Gina Davis. After harvest, Brookgreen volunteers and staff dried, designed, and drilled the tiny holes to let light through. Volunteer Monica Cerkez hand-drew each intricate design.
Mystic Immersion: Over 1,100 bottles hang from trees and perch on stems throughout The Visionaries Garden. Glass bottles began circulating through Africa, Egypt, and Mesopotamia in 1600 BC. The belief that spirits could live in these bottles quickly followed. The hope was that by hanging the bottles in a tree, evil spirits would find their way into the wine bottles and become stuck. Look for the rain chains near the Old Kitchen made from the bottoms of the wine bottles.
Chicha Engerera (Shona) It Will Circle: Step into the “engerera” (circle) and be surround by multicolored light, made from over 1,008 bottles collected from our community of volunteers, local restaurants, and staff. Whether backlit by the sun’s radiance during the day or illuminated from above at night, the rhythm and colors will mesmerize. 16 panels connect to form an “engerera” that will “unyiko” (immerse) guests in color and light once inside.

Each night, Brookgreen Gardens’ gates will reopen at 6:00 p.m. for access to Summer Light: Art by Night. Live music will be performed nightly by various bands. Dining and beverage options will also be available each evening from Austin’s Harvest Restaurant, the Old Kitchen, and several food trucks.

Event Details

What: Summer Light: Art by Night
When: June 7 – August 26, 2023; Wednesdays & Saturdays only; 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: Brookgreen Gardens, 1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Tickets: Members: $20 adults, $12 children. Non-members: $25 adults, $15 children. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3KOlzhw.

For more information about the event series, visit www.brookgreen.org.