Mary L. Harden Designs
Exhibitions
Return of the Carnivorous Plants
Oh no! They’re back, and they’re more frightfully fun than ever! This summer, the Conservatory of Flowers becomes a Little Shop of Horticultural Horrors with a sequel to its 2007 exhibition “Chomp!” “Chomp 2! Return of the Carnivorous Plants” once again immerses visitors in a swampy paradise for meat-eating plants like the statuesque white trumpets of the American Southeast, the sinister pitcher plants of Borneo and the glistening sundews of South Africa. The extraordinary beauty and diversity of species on display will dazzle even the most squeamish.
Mary produced a fund raising event for SF's Conservatory of Flowers by directing the creation and donation of art by students in her Master Artist class. The festive silent auction on May 6th generated $8,000 for educational programs with
Paxton Gate partnered with the Conservatory of Flowers to sponsor CHOMP 2
MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL
June - July 2010
Mary has watercolors for sale to benefit Marin General Hospital's Children's Fund.
The works are on display in the hall way near the north entrance and feature floral elements, buds, and seed pods in full color.
Past Exhibits
Edible Expeditions
May - Oct. 2009
Conservatory of Flowers
Surprises abound about the treats we eat in a new exhibition called Edible Expeditions.
It¹s a chance to see food in the wild as visitors take a discovery journey of edible plants from around the world. Edible Expeditions highlights the many delicious products that we enjoy from tropical countries like chocolate, vanilla, coffee, rice and spices galore. Interactive demonstrations help visitors understand how their food goes from vine to dine.
The exhibit also features a number of pen and ink illustrations that were created by artists studying under Mary L. Harden in the botanical illustration program at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Original works available for purchase at the gift shop to benefit the educational programs of the Conservatory of Flowers.
Read more about Edible Expeditions
read Steve Rubenstein's humorous account here
Rock Hill Gallery
Mary L. Harden, Nancy J. Ballard, and Linda Cavanaugh show original botanical watercolors at the Rock Hill Gallery at the Community Congregational Church of Tiburon.
Community Congregational Church (CCC) is located at the top of a beautiful hill in Tiburon, California. Our wonderful views of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding countryside reflect the expression of oneness and expansion found in our active and caring congregation.
Celebrating the Spirit in all People, in all things
"Marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, botanical illustrator Mary Harden and the artists in her master class at the San Francisco Botanical Garden are showing detailed watercolors of ferns, magnolias, horsetails, araucarias, and other flora in the arboretum's Ancient Plant Garden."
- Jesse Hamlin, Chronicle staff writer
Echoes of Darwin received "Top Pick" from Janos Gereben in the Examiner's Art section and was reviewed in San Francisco Arts Monthly, January 2009.
www.SFArts.org
100 John F. Kennedy Dr. Golden Gate Park, SF, CA 94118
CHOMP 2
May 7th - Oct. 31st, 2010
9-5 daily except Mondays
Display of botanical drawings by Mary Harden's Master Artists of the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society's Illustration Program beautifully reveals some of the structural details that make these plants so alluring.
Director Brent Dennis encourages bidding on the pen and ink illustrations and watercolors of carnivorous plants on view in the current CHOMP 2 exhibit. Consider the purchase of remaining watercolors to help reach our $10,000 goal.
BOLINAS GALLERY
May 1-31, 2010
The Bolinas Gallery featured beautiful botanicals by the Master Artists in Mary's Illustration Program. Nineteen lush, botanically accurate watercolors delighted visitors at a Mother's Day reception.
Black Tie Botanicals
Community Congregational Church of Tiburon
145 Rock Hill Drive
Tiburon, CA. 94920
Aug 20 - Oct 8, 2009
Echoes of Darwin
January 2nd through March 31st 2009
Helen Crocker Russell Reference Library Strybing Arboretum, 9th Ave. @ Lincoln Way Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Celebrate Charles Darwins' birthday with us. Echoes of Darwin presents a tale of plant evolution through exquisitely executed paintings.
