Kevin Box Explores Origami in the Garden
Painted Ponies from Origami in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Image by Tom Hennessy
For fifteen years, Kevin Box ’s sculptures have been commissioned, collected, and displayed in prestigious art museums and private galleries around the world. Each sculpture is incredibly unique, beginning as a paper-inspired design that Box immortalizes through the lost-wax casting process. Though the Santa Fe sculptor welcomes the international acclaim, he also yearns to extend his impact beyond fine arts patrons. Over five years ago, while visiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, he and his wife, Jennifer, shared an epiphany. They could showcase his collection in galleries of a different kind: the natural settings of botanical gardens!
Box’s sculptures are created through origami and inspired by nature.
Origami in the Garden, a national touring exhibit, was born.
Kevin Box’s Vision
“My goal was to reach a broader audience through public art,” Box says. “By presenting in a garden, we can reach an entire community—schoolchildren and families—who aren’t intimidated by the setting.” Botanical gardens are apropos for another reason. “The subjects and themes permeating the exhibit are matters of nature: animals, plants, and archetypes,” he says. “They help us get to know ourselves, as well as our place in nature.” Even the design process relies on nature for its preliminary materials. “Origami starts with paper, and the origin of paper is plants,” Box says. “In a way, the exhibit is the voice of plants in collaboration with the human hand.”
Unlike most fine arts exhibits, Origami in the Garden is experienced outdoors. “The pieces communicate on a lot of different levels, whether you dig deep or stay on the surface. I invite you to discover the meaning and spirit within my work.”
Hero’s Horse from Origami in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Image by Tom Hennessy.
This fascinating exhibit is displayed now through September 30, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Plus, join us for related classes and events, origami activities, an Instagram contest, and opening weekend events!