Plant Talk

New Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Features Work of Local Garden Designers

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, within easy walking distance of the Winslow ferry dock, opens next Friday, June 14.

I was lucky enough to have a pre-opening tour - the 20,000 square foot building, designed by Bainbridge architect Matthew Coates (Coates Design Architects) which is going for LEED Gold. It'd be the first art museum in our state to accomplish that ultra-green designation.

If you visit - when you visit - be sure and check out the courtyard plaza garden designed by Withey and Price. It was still under construction when I was touring, but I'll post some photos soon...it looked like it'll be as fabulous as you'd expect from that designing duo.

But the outdoor surprise is the George and David Lewis Rooftop Garden, a gift to BIMA by Debbi and Paul Brainerd in honor of the artists.  This outdoor perch is planted in sedum and grasses, with a wide river of stones, garnished with new work by Little and Lewis. The organic, rock-like pieces, undulating and curvaceous, are very different than George and David's signature cobalt blue columns or dramatic concrete gunnera leaves. These undulating forms, in shades of cream and umber, create their own quiet force-field, lending the aura of a zen garden to this al fresco corner of the new museum. I'll write more about this very special rooftop in Pacific Northwest - be sure and check it out when you visit BIMA.

Little and Lewis Garden Art Show

I can't believe it's been four years since Bainbridge Island artists Little and Lewis staged a major exhibition of their garden art....they have a fresh new show opening on July 3, running through August 5, at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery, 151 Winslow Way East. On Saturday, July 11 you can join David and George in the gallery for a discussion of their work.

The new show is entitled "Transitions". And no wonder - in the last couple of years the pair sold their renowned garden gallery, remodeled the next door house and garden, and have taken to spending months of the year at their home in San Miguel de Allende. The new works are still their signature color-washed concrete, but the pieces are smaller and more intimate in response to the quiet, more private turn their lives have taken....

Top photo is George at work; the bottom is of one of the new pieces in the show....