I’m pleased The Virginia Robinson Gardens will be hosting a special art installation in October featuring the work of Max Hooper Schneider. This installation is part of Southern California’s landmark arts event, the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time initiative, which brings together more than sixty cultural institutions to stage installations throughout the region exploring the intersection of art and science. Mr. Hooper Schneider’s artwork is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, the Hammer Museum, and many other institutions throughout the world. His work has been honored and widely exhibited internationally. With a degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University, Mr. Hooper Schneider’s work brings together his horticulture expertise and deep artistic sensibility. We will be showing one of the artist’s most highly acclaimed series which are his recent bonsai sculptures. These sculptures are imaginary forms from organic materials of plant clippings, flowers, fruits and vegetables sourced from The Virginia Robinson Gardens and then “bronzed” through a process invented by the artist. Mr. Hooper Schneider’s art reveals the transformative nature of landscapes. The sculptures can be seen by docent-led tours through advance reservation on October 19, 24, 25, 26 and 28. In addition, guests will be able to view the works at the special membership event on October 17th. Special thanks to Mark Selwyn Fine Art and Friends founder Joan Selwyn for their efforts to bring this installation to the gardens, Max Hooper Schneider, and Del Vaz Projects and Francois Ghebaly Gallery for curating the exhibit.
Spending time in nature is so important for children’s physical and mental health and what better place to explore nature than at The Virginia Robinson Gardens! California adopted the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights which states all children have a right to participate in various outdoor activities, such as play in a safe space outdoors, camp under the stars, hike in nature, go boating, learn to swim, ride a bike, just to name a few. As part of the 80th anniversary of the Department of Parks and Recreation of LA County, the Department created Let’s Play Outside, a campaign of free programming for children throughout the month of July. The botanical gardens in the Department – The Arboretum, South Coast Botanical Gardens, Descanso Gardens and The Virginia Robinson Gardens – came together and decided to take one of these rights – plant a seed – and provide this experience free for children throughout the month of July. The children’s tours here included exploring the gardens, going on a nature scavenger hunt, playing games, and culminated in planting a seed in a compostable pot. The children learned how seeds play an important role for all of us, making oxygen for our air and food for all other living creatures. They were very excited to take their pot home and watch it grow! Watching the children’s excitement as they dug the soil and plant their seed reminds one of the important role the gardens play for children’s well-being. A favorite moment was a little girl who couldn’t contain her excitement to don her brand-new gardening gloves and get to work!
Finally, we recently added a Behind the Scenes tour for adults where a small group of guests visit rooms not normally seen during our regular public tours. This in-depth tour gives visitors a glimpse into the elegant lifestyle of Harry and Virginia Robinson. Guests visit all the rooms in the Main House, including the Galleria where Mrs. Robinson often began and ended her day enjoying the view of the Great Lawn, and the Morning Room where she met daily with her majordomo to discuss matters related to the estate. Seeing Mrs. Robinson’s bedroom and dressing room allows visitors to imagine what it must have been like to get ready for one of her famous galas. Guests also climb up the beautiful spiral staircase in the Pool Pavilion to the secret Card Room, rarely seen by visitors. This tour offers a fascinating insight into the public and private lives of the Robinsons and shouldn’t be missed!
Marcella Ruble
Great article