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A big and warm “mahalo” goes to the New York Botanical Garden for once again giving New Yorkers the chance to get cultured through one of the things millennials can't seem to get enough of: plants. This weekend, the Bronx locale debuts its much-awaited spring and summer flora exhibition inspired by artist Georgia O'Keeffe and the painter's stunning works reflecting the Hawaiian Islands in 1939.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the New York Botanical Garden
The exhibition, titled Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai’i, runs from May 19 through October 28. It includes a flower show inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and showcase of more than 15 of O'Keeffe's paintings on-view at the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Art Gallery. (FYI: These works haven't been seen together since their 1940 debut.)
Inside the conservatory, you'll be immersed in Hawaiian wildlife while getting a sense of the importance these plants hold in Hawaiian culture. See tropical garden plants like the ones O'Keeffe painted—think frangipani, bougainvillea, heliconia, hibiscus, bird-of-paradise, ginger and pineapple.
In addition to the art and greenery, the New York Botanical Garden has a killer lineup of entertainment that will make you and the whole family feel as if you’ve landed in paradise. Programs include live hula demonstrations with music, lei-making, Hawaiian instrument crafting and more on select dates.
On July 28 and 29, visitors can head to the garden for Fashion and Design Weekend, which highlights the evolution of fashion in Hawaii and how its culture has influenced other designers today. There will be a traditional tattoo and kapa (a type of fabric) demonstrations, as well as a fashion show, of course.
And, in true NYBG form, there will be special after-hours Aloha Nights, during which you can stroll through the conservatory and enjoy live music and artist demonstrations. There will be illuminated installations by contemporary Hawaiian-Chinese sculptor Mark Chai, as well as speciality cocktails and Hawaiian bites for purchase from the STARR Events new Poke Truck. If you go, chances are you’ll get lei’d.
If you’re itching to see what the flower show looks like, here’s a first-look below. For more details about the events and programs, check out the NYBG's website.
Photographs: Jennifer Picht
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