Daily Archives: May 9, 2011

Thursdays, June 2, 9 and 16, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – History of Botanical Art Seminar

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Past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker Carol Govan introduces you to illustrations from a variety of eras and artists who tried to preserve the ephemeral qualities of plants for different reasons, in this three session class at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Thursdays, June 2, 9 and 16, from 9:30 – 12:30.  Learn why plant illustrations changed from fanciful copied images to accurate representations from direct observation.  Learn the difference between an herbal, a floral, a florilegia, a botanical monograph, and many other collections of images based on who would use the finished book.  See the many techniques involved in creating original images as well as reproducing them for a larger audience.  A private viewing in Margaret Clapp Library Special Collections highlights the College’s extraordinary world-class collection of rare manuscripts.  Bring a hand lens for looking at samples.  Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture members $100, non-members $125.  To register, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH, or call 781-283-3094, ext. 4.   Florilegium illustration shown below: And thou, divine LINNAEUS! … from The temple of Flora: or, Garden of nature, being picturesque botanical plates of the New illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus, by Robert John Thornton, London : Printed for the publisher [i.e., the author], 1799

Saturday, May 21 – Saturday, June 4 – Susurrus

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The Public Garden is annually the host to countless cultural events. This year beginning on May 21, the park is will be the setting of Susurrus: a play without actors and without a stage. The production is part radio play, part recital, part lesson in bird dissection, and part stroll in the park. Susurrus (pronounced sus-YOO-rus and referring to the rustling sound of wind in trees), is written and directed by David Leddy, a Scottish playwright known for his experimental works. In this installment of his, participants follow a map around the Public Garden as they listen to the piece on headphones; the different elements meld location and sound to create a theater experience in which there are no actors and only one member in the audience: you.

The dates of the production include: May 21, May 22, May 26, June 2, June 3, June 4, and June 5. Times will vary, with groups of four admitted every 15 minutes. The piece includes about a mile of walking on paved pathways. Headphone pickup will be on Boylston Steet between Charles and Tremont.

Tickets are on sale now at the Emerson College Arts Box Office located at 559 Washington Street. For more information, call (617) 824-8000 or e-mail tickets@artsemerson.org.