CHICAGO — The Garfield Park Conservatory will use colorful shadows and mirrors to highlight its flora as part of a new exhibit.
The exhibit, "solarise," was specially designed for the conservatory by Luftwerk, an artistic duo, and paid for with donations. It uses light, color and mirrors, "elevating and highlighting the perception and importance nature plays in society and urban planning," according to the conservatory.
“Garfield Park Conservatory has long been known as a Chicago cultural anchor, and this interactive art installation will underscore the Conservatory’s cultural legacy while engaging residents in new ways,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement.
"solarise" will be on display from this year's autumnal equinox, Sept. 23, until next year's autumnal equinox, Sept. 22, 2016.
The display is broken into five lighting fixtures and sculptures that are spread throughout the conservatory:
• The Beacon: An LED display will go down the "ribs" of the Palm House dome.
• Florescence: A canopy of blue and red petals will cast colorful shadows across the ground.
• Seed of Light: Water and light will create rippled shadows across the Horticulture Hall.
• Prismatic: A sculpture that takes its inspiration from a cactus will refract lights throughout the Desert House. It will be accompanied by music on Wednesdays.
• Portal: Mirrored panels that will go above the Palm House's reflection pool and frame the Fern Room's waterfall.
The conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., will have the exhibit open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day but Wednesdays, when the exhibit is open until 8 p.m.
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