Knowing Jack: A Lesson in Carnivorous Plants

Savage Gardens, an exhibit of real and imaged plants paired with a juried art exhibit and larger-than-life sculptures, opened this month at the Franklin Park Conservatory.  

An Appetite for Art

Our photographic image, Jack with Fangs, was selected for the art show, which serves up 11 pieces from Ohio artists. Franklin Park Conservatory began incorporating art into their exhibitions five years; a move executive director Bruce Harkey believes has lead to increased visitors. THINK CHIHULY!

Jack with Fangs by Larry Hamill

The sculptures, grown from resin and metal, allow viewers to see the plants from an insect’s perspective. Step inside a 10-foot-tall tropical pitcher plant, experience the lure of a nine-foot Venus flytrap or witness an eight-foot sundew as it comes to life through fiber optic illumination.

Tork Sculpture

Gastronomy – The Art of Good Eating

The largest variety of carnivorous plants in the world is native to North America. Presently, the Conservatory is catering to more than 3,000 voracious carnivorous plants.

Living in mineral-deficient soils such as wetlands, bogs and sand, these plants are masters of culinary adaptation – luring, catching and digesting insects for nourishment.

A Vanishing Food Chain

In a recent Ohio Magazine article, Franklin Park Conservatory horticulturist Amanda Bettin said she hopes the exhibit will increase awareness about carnivorous plants – an extraordinary group of plants that is disappearing in the wild.

“In North America, 95 percent of native habitats have been destroyed – the need for conservation is great and educating the public on the importance of preserving our bogs and wetlands will be part of our educational message.”

Also on the menu in the Conservatory’s North Atrium Gallery is 12-minute video of a behind-the-scenes look at the planning and production of four sculptures created by Tork IndustrialARTifacts for the Savage Gardens exhibit.  A preview of the video can be seen on You Tube.

Visit the Conservatory at 1p.m. for a presentation about these ravenous plants, their origins and a feeding demonstration.

Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH  614/645-8733.   Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Savage Gardens on view July 10 – Nov. 14.

Posted by Pamela J. Willits

Marathon Evolution: Stepping to the Sound of Your Own Drummer

Columbus Marathon © Larry Hamill

Marathon Evolution is our latest in slow motion videos.  Filmed in part during the recent Columbus Marathon, it juxtaposes runners and rain puddles.

Once again, we’ve incorporated music by Kevin MacLeod.  The piece, entitled Birch Run, is reminiscent of Native American pow-wow drumming.  This selection seemed fitting, as Native Americans were the first long distance runners on this land.  While the drumming keeps pace with the runners steps and perhaps their heartbeats, the jingling sound mimics falling rain.

Rain Puddle © Larry Hamill

As a side note, women of the Ojibwa and Chippewa tribes wore dresses covered with metal cones, creating a jingling sound as they moved. Jingle dresses were traditional worn during the healing dance.

The 2009 Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Columbus Marathon and drew nearly 15,000 athletes.

For a look at the growing use of social media in such events, particularly TweetMyTime, visit marathon runner Nate Riggs’ blog.

LIQUID MOTION: Slow Motion Dance with Water

Latina Dancers © Larry Hamill

We’d like to share with you, LIQUID MOTION, our first video production. Shot at 400 frames per seconds on a Casio point and shoot camera, the video juxtaposes water in motion with Latina Dancers, creating a mesmerizing slow motion effect.

Latina Dancers with Water © Larry Hamill

Water images were shot at the Marble Cliff public fountain in Columbus, Ohio. The effect of water moving through space, in lieu of falling towards the ground, was achieved by turning the camera sideways.

Sound track was provided courtesy of Kevin MacLeod.  More about Kevin’s music can be found at www.kmacleodmusic.com.

Special thanks to John Heck for use of his camera and advice on music selection.