Don’t Be Like the White Rabbit: Late for this Very Important Date ~ NYBG Premieres "Wonderland: Curious Nature," May 18th: Sneak Preview Here!
It all starts with the Victorians. (Not with Disney or Tim Burton!)
While many think of these denizens as straight-laced, if not downright repressed, perhaps we’ve been a bit hasty. A closer look reveals their unbridled passion for discovery; the zeal for cataloging and classifying the world around them. Budding, irrepressible Naturalists and Taxonomists! Plus, Victorians’ curiosity introduced new worlds of art, technology, culture, science and nature, not to mention the very notion of a childhood. It was an “Age of Wonder.”
Our own sense of discovery and fantasy is ignited by NYBG’s latest show: Wonderland: Curious Nature, opening May 18th. Join me as we head Down the Rabbit Hole…
Wonderland: Curious Nature, is inspired by the beloved Lewis Carroll classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass,
And What Alice Found There,at The New York Botanical Garden, is arguably the best show the Garden has ever produced.
Why?
There are so many reasons that I will share with you, having been dazzled at Wednesday’s Press Preview.
Let’s start with the favorite characters from the Caroll classic, including Alice, the Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, The Red Queen, those magical mushrooms (!), tea parties, and the other anthropomorphic creatures, including the Cards ~ note to plant lovers/horticulturists: the Spades are the Gardeners, and the Caterpillar, who probes the existential question of “Who in the World Am I?”
Whew. Just as the book takes on many meanings, metaphors, and symbols, so too does this exquisitely curated exhibition at NYBG, where things get curiouser and curiouser. I can guarantee that you’ll want to return often to take it all in. You have until October 27th to feed your inner child’s power of imagination, creativity and that powerful lure of curiosity. It will not kill the (Cheshire). 🙂
Kids of all ages will delight in the plant and flower displays, the programs designed for both day and night, the art, the enchanting beauty, and finding all those beloved characters throughout the Garden.
Plants
I was gobsmacked to learn that the plants featured in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for the exhibit are all grown by seed by the Garden! Yes, grown from seed. This is no easy task when mounting a show like this.
Moreover, the plants and their flowers will be changed out seasonally.
Very impressive. And lots of work…
The Garden notes:
“A horticultural wonderland awaits visitors in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and the surrounding area. Featured plants include those found in a traditional English garden alongside plants that are seemingly plucked from the imagination.
The living component of the Wonderland exhibition represents a
journey that begins in a beautiful flower garden and continues through displays of some of the truly wonderful oddities of the plant world.
Entering the Conservatory, you’ll see the display of giant tropical water lily Victoria amazonica (they’re small now but will grow BIG), and other aquatic species, as well as a leaf from the Titan arum ~ the giant Corpse Flower.
Before entering a manicured landscape with an English double border.
The scene evokes the famous water lily house and walled garden at Oxford University, one of the places that inspired the fanciful tales of Alice and the unforgettable characters she encounters.
Familiar favorites like larkspur and foxglove
are combined with more uncanny choices such as the Canary Island-endemic Echium wildpretti, commonly known as tower-of-jewels.
As the orderly walled garden begins to come undone, visitors find themselves inside a mysterious rabbit hole and emerge to behold giant leaves and miniature plants.
This bold garden of colorful wonders features some of the most fetchingly odd plants from NYBG’s collections.
Devil’s tongue from China, giant milkweed from Africa, and Myrmecodia, a
plant from Australia that serves as a home to colonies of ants, are just some of the many bizarre but beautiful plants featured in this Wonderland Garden
This is truly a unique, immersive botanical experience.
Get Curious.
Down the Rabbit Hole in and around the Conservatory
In the Leon Levy Visitor Center, the White Rabbit fashioned entirely out of plants greets you. We loved the mirror image of the 12-foot-tall Rabbit in the pool that surrounds the plant sculpture. Created by Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal (MIM), a Canadian company dedicated to modern interpretations of the art of “mosaiculture,” a blend of sculpture.
It’s written that the White Rabbit marks a symbolism of Time. The White Rabbit's obsession with time is a prominent symbol in the story. As he constantly checks his pocket watch and exclaims, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!", he embodies the concept of time slipping away and the pressure of keeping up with societal expectations.
Outside, on the Conservatory Lawn, the boundaries of botanical art are challenged by more than 100 topiaries in geometric shapes. Nearby, Shrumen Lumen, kinetic mushroom sculptures by FoldHaus Art Collective, that dazzled audiences at the Burning Man festival and around the world, change size at random, as if they are breathing. At night, the sculptures’ colorful, moving LEDs beckon visitors to linger in this magical dreamscape with the iconic Conservatory dome as a dramatic backdrop.
Art:
In addition to the wonderland of plants, there are many fanciful, featured fine art pieces, organized by curator and scholar Jennifer R. Gross, in collaboration with NYBG, the exhibition showcases the work of contemporary artists in diverse media, including FoldHaus Art Collective, Carsten Höller, Patrick Jacobs, Andre Kong Studio, Abelardo Morell, Yoko Ono, Beverly Semmes, Alyson Shotz, Agus Putu Suyadnya, and Paula Wilson.
Overlooking the Rockefeller Rose Garden, Japanese artist, performer, and peace activist Yoko Ono’s Play It By Trust is a game of chess like no other.
All the oversized pieces and the large playing board itself are a single color, challenging traditional aspirations for gamesmanship and competition, creating a thought-provoking twist on the centuries-old game that plays a memorable role in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.
Be sure to take the Tram around the Garden to experience the outdoor exhibits, including Ono’s chessboard and the Caterpillar at the entrance to the Children’s Garden. And of course, the Rose Garden.
Curiouser and Curiouser in the Library Building Art Galleries
The exhibits in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building expand upon the global appeal of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, fostering connections to the childlike wonder of the character Alice, who is undeterred in the face of the unfamiliar.
The Victorian period, when Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was originally published, was one of great excitement and curiosity, as new technologies, scientific breakthroughs, and discoveries revolutionized how people saw the world and understood nature.
Through 19th century publications, objects, and gadgets—and examples of early Alice editions—the displays in the exhibition examine the stories through a modern lens by juxtaposing the historical context with the work of contemporary artists.
Cuban artist Abelardo Morell's photography brings new life and dimension to the pages of original Alice manuscripts.
Figures set within garden landscapes are recorded in video and photography by New York Based artist Beverly Semmes, evoking the imaginative horizons available to everyone reading the classic tales.
Additional works on display include a mushroom sculpture by Carsten Höller, the miniature worlds of artist Patrick Jacobs, fantastical and futuristic dreamscapes by emerging Indonesian painter Agus Putu Suyadnya, and the short video, Sunflower Love, by video and performance artist Paula Wilson, offering a contemplation of identity through humanity’s connection to nature.
Food and Drink
Eat This and Drink This—Wonderland Dining Options
Throughout the Botanical Garden, opportunities for themed refreshment abound. Whether looking for a hearty meal, a sweet “unbirthday” treat, a savory nibble, or an inventive handcrafted cocktail, all can find something delightfully mad to spark their curiosity and whet their appetites.
Pine Tree Café, known for its grab-and-go pastries and coffees, serves Alice’s “Drink Me” Lavender Lattes, hot or iced; Queen’s Lemonade inspired by the Queen of Hearts; and themed pastries, including illustrated Wonderland Sugar Cookies and Mad Hatter Chocolate Brownies.
All are delicious. You might think the cookies are too precious to eat but “Eat Me” is apropos.
You can also fuel your mad curiosity with beverages, sandwiches, salads, and
Wraps. The Smoked Salmon tea sandwich is particularly good.
Hudson Garden Grill—NYBG’s full-service, sit-down restaurant—features an exhibition themed menu and custom cocktails and mocktails throughout the duration of the exhibit.
Finish the meal with a tier stand of sweets.
The Rose Court, a Queen of Hearts-inspired pop-up at the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, with thousands of roses and lush natural beauty, is a jewel box destination nestled in the shade of the Garden’s historic Stone Cottage.
You can indulge in the Queen’s berry lemonade, an array of cookies, sweets, and frozen treats such as ice cream sandwiches, complemented by refreshing cold beverages, including an enticing red spiced hibiscus iced Tea.
Step through the pages of Wonderland into a world of boxwood and vintage looking-glasses at the Looking Glass, a weekend and evening pop-up in the Visitor Center patio,
Offering delightful Tea-To-Go service, a curated selection of wines, beers, and frosé, cookies,
decorated sweets, and kid-friendly fare perfect for al fresco dining.
Charm and a bit of cheekiness await at The Unbirthday Truck and Ice Cream Cart. With tea sandwiches and Tea-To-Go service, sweet and savory afternoon and seasonal frozen treats, and Wonderland Snack Mix, every day feels like a golden birthday.
For those looking for a Mad Hatter’s experience, the Hudson Garden Grill also hosts an enchanting Tea Party Party, by reservation-only on Thursday afternoons from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., offering visitors the opportunity to bring Wonderland to life with individual pots of tea, delectable savory hors d’oeuvres, tea sandwiches, and an array of sweets.
The Merch
Find the Perfect Wonderland Gift at NYBG Shop
NYBG Shop has a wide array of Wonderland-themed products including colorful floral and mushroom images, t-shirts, magnets, mugs, and umbrellas, as well as Alice-inspired jewelry and accessories.
Tea aficionados can find an assortment of whimsical ceramic teapots and teacups, serving pieces made from upcycled vintage porcelain, and NYBG’s own gourmet tea collection from Tea Forte. For anyone who hasn’t yet read the books that inspired the exhibition, they can choose from over 15 different versions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There for both children and adults, including a custom designed leather-bound volume that’s sure to become a family heirloom. Find a selection of unusual climbing vines, carnivorous plants, curious seeds, and elegant topiaries, as well as kits to grow edible mushrooms at home.
Tickets for Wonderland: Curious Nature are on sale at https://www.nybg.org/event/wonderland-curiousnature/
Would You Like an Adventure Now? Programming for All Ages
The multi-seasonal exhibition is complemented by a vibrant offering of public programming. The exhibition starts with an Opening Weekend Garden Party Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, 2024, 11am to 5pm on Daffodil Hill. Dine like royalty as a special guest at the Queen’s Tea.
Presented by the award-winning theater company We Players, encounter wild and whimsical Wonderland characters at NYBG. Race the White Rabbit, become tongue-tied with the Tweedles, or sit for a springtime chat with
Alice herself. Partake of Wonderland-inspired tea and crumpets available for purchase, give croquette or other lawn games a go, and create a hat before joining in a variety of tea sampling demonstrations as the Mad Hatter makes merry on grounds.
A rich array of self-guided tours and other programs provide lively experiences Garden-wide both during the day and at night. On Saturdays, Sundays, and select holiday Mondays, favorite characters such as the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit spring from the page and find a home at NYBG. At the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden Pop-Up, Wonderland: Wonder Thyme encourages children to explore the natural world from new perspectives inspired by Alice’s storybook adventures.
Wonderland Nights are a not-to-be-missed evening events for adults 21 and over, on select dates—June 1, 8, and 15, from 7 to 10 p.m., with more dates to be announced in September and October. Wonderland comes to life after hours with staged performances and cocktails.
In a spectacular show of rhythm and delight, Thistle Dance lets loose during the Mad Hatter’s dance party. A special ticket is required.
Fantastic Fungi Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15, 2024, bring together creative voices in the worlds of food, healing, design, and the performing arts who are inspired by, or make use of, fungi in their work. Discover the fascinating world of mushrooms through the eyes of scientists, and learn how these unique organisms help make life on Earth possible.
Check the NYBG website for a full listing of programs and updates on the floral displays.
Fall down this rabbit hole. Be curious. Enjoy this one-in-a-lifetime experience with family and friends.
Alice: "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrariwise, what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would."