“We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden,” Joni Mitchell once sang.
Agreed, especially when that garden has outdoor sculptures that manage to look both sci-fi and futuristic with an ancient Egyptian vibe. Opening this weekend at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is the premiere of work by New York-based artists, sculptor Kate Raudenbush and poet Sha Michele, featuring five intricate, large-scale sculptures. “Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture,” was designed to dialogue with various plants and landscapes around the nonprofit garden.
The two artists met in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada at a Burning Man festival in 2000. Two decades later, this collaborative artwork was “born in the silent spaces of solitary self-inquiry” during the early days of the pandemic, per a release. Some sculptures weigh as much as 900 pounds with heights reaching 17 feet, so visitors can walk inside many of these “portals.” They should be impressive whether you visit during the daytime or at night, when they will be expressively lit. We’re imagining countless selfies and maybe a few fans of the movie “Stargate” totally geeking out. The first evening hours begin next Wednesday, May 3rd and will continue Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through October.
Earlier today, Style spoke with Beth Anne Booth, director of exhibitions at Lewis Ginter, to learn more about this project, which began installation on April 19th. “The name ‘Incanto’ essentially means incantation,” she says. “It’s transformation. It’s magic. It’s welcoming people into a transformational space. It’s a call and an invitation.”
Style Weekly: So how did this project come about?
Beth Anne Booth: The former exhibitions manager, Ellyn Parker, made the connection with Kate Raudenbush and made that introduction to the garden at the tailend of 2019. It was the [rare] opportunity to showcase fine art in a botanical garden. Her work is very connected to the natural world. It was just a beautiful fit. Of course, then the pandemic came along … I took on the position in January 2022 and continued to bring this to the finish line.
Both artists live in New York, right? Were there any other ties to RVA?
Yeah, both live in New York, there’s no other connection to Richmond. Kate is originally from the D.C. area … We wanted something different and innovative here. Kate is more than a Burning Man artist, that’s where she found her footing but she’s really evolved into an internationally renowned artist.
Everything is so intentionally developed and thought out … every single detail from the laser cutting to the material choice, to the plants, she worked closely with our horticulture department to find plants that would compliment these sculptures. It’s a wonderful showcase for our plant material. And this is Kate’s first time showcasing this kind of solo exhibit in a botanical garden, with seasons. Nature has its plans. Spring came early this year and we’ve had to pivot. The frost season doesn’t end until May 15, so we can’t bring out tropical plants until that happens. It’s a give-and-take … [The sculptures] “Resonant Passage” and “Source Code” are in the central garden up top, the others are nicely spread out. There’s one called “Seed of Self” that’s very meditative, it’s immersive, and it’s located in our Streb Conifer Garden, a very precious area. You can actually meditate there … Kate has been very sensitive to the environment. That’s part of the Burning Man philosophy: “Leave no trace.”
So if you had to choose, is it better to see them at night or during the day?
You’ve got to see them at all times! The way the sun hits, even in this weather, provides a different experience. Everything is immersive. I think it’s going to create return visitation … But you have to remember, even though we’re outside, that doesn’t mean we’re not in a museum. They have to be treated with respect. These aren’t for climbing, or jungle gym-type things. That’s going to likely be one of our challenges, to make sure people respect and honor that these are art pieces …
How does Sha Michele’s poetry play into these?
Each sculpture is going to have its own signage that will talk about the interpretation or the messaging behind its piece. That’s Kate’s message – the sculptures are her, all the way. The poetry is complimentary and that is from Sha Michele … But what’s really great is that we have a QR code on our signs and people can jump on the website and for each sculpture there will be an audio component to hear the poetry and Kate’s narration.
Each piece changed during the pandemic from when it was conceived in 2019 … Like with “Breaking Point,” I took this quote: “Suffering is a portal in which you can reframe your identity.” You know, seeing all this social unrest and power struggle and public health crisis. There’s nothing light or surface-y about this … Kate is in Richmond now. She is all in, it’s her passion. It’s her art and her gift, her calling, and it’s a privilege to have her present. She spoke to our staff and had people in tears. So moved.
Are there any public talks where guests can hear her?
As of now, no. I think there’s a definite desire, but we haven’t scheduled anything just yet … We do have some amazing opportunities to partner with the community through this exhibit, and that’s what we’re about. We’re having a Gallery5 “Incanto” evening every month, the second Friday of each month, a partnership with them. Our first one in May is with the PLF (Party Liberation Front), so the burners will be here. They’re all themed. We’re also celebrating Pride Month for the second year now, partnering with [Virginia Pride] for a Pride illumination. We’re having a Juneteenth commemoration here. [Visit their website for more info].
What’s your main goal moving forward at Lewis Ginter?
My goal here as director of exhibitions is to bring Richmond to the garden in a really intentional way and to celebrate community. We are a fount of creativity and nature is the most beautiful medium to create those connections. I’m trying to highlight our various spaces, even our interior gallery spaces … Em White, the tintype photographer, her work is on display right now, and there’s more curation to come … As a nonprofit, we’re grateful to our sponsorships and operating budget supported by our donors.
Anything new you really want visitors to know?
I think the biggest thing is that, for the first time, we’re going to be open on Friday and Saturday nights, during a very busy season, until 9 p.m. That’s a really big deal for the garden. Typically, those evenings are reserved for facility rentals. We want to be accessible to the community and to have the community be able to access the art and the experience.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has evening hours May 3-Oct. 28; Wednesdays through Saturdays; until 9 p.m. The exhibition “Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture,” opens Saturday, April 29 and cost is included in the admission ($17 for adults, $14 for seniors and military; $8 for youths 3-12; and children under 3 are free) Also free for members.
