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Library EventsArt Exhibit"Vanishing Orchids"Exhibition of 19th century botanical art from the collection of Jack Kramer, October - DecemberWriter and collector Jack Kramer assembled this exhibit, using loose illustrations from his personal collection depicting 40 beautiful orchids now endangered or extinct. Hand-colored prints by masters of botanical illustration include some of the best examples of orchids and of the famous artists who painted them. WOMEN OF FLOWERS Visitors may remember our 2000 Women of Flowers exhibition, based on Jack Kramer’s book, which highlighted the unheralded, unrecognized women artists who exquisitely but often anonymously illustrated many Victorian flower books. |
    
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INSPIRATION FOR ORCHID EXHIBITAfter the success of the Women of Flowers exhibit, Kramer began to consider mounting an exhibition depicting orchids in art. A noted horticultural author, Jack Kramer has written 100 books on gardening and plants. He is an avid orchid collector and six of the books have been about orchids, including the 1989 classic World Wildlife Fund Book of Orchids, which encouraged the conservation of rare and endangered orchids. He has also been a collector of rare books, and of 18th and 19th century prints. His most recent book, A Passion for Orchids: the Most Beautiful Orchid Portraits and their Artists, 2002 is the culmination of these multiple interests. ORCHID HISTORY / ORCHID MANIAOrchids have been admired for centuries. Associated with love, luxury, and sensuality, the orchid plant inspired Chinese calligraphers and Japanese painters, and later provided infinite subject matter for European and American botanists and collectors. During the 18th century orchid collecting became an established recreation, and orchid fever soon spread. By the 19th century Victorian period, orchids arriving from foreign lands on British ships bedazzled the population. No proper manor house was complete without its orchid conservatory. During this period, great orchid books were published, illustrated by outstanding artists who created both botanical illustration and fine art. By the 1890s orchid fever had spread to the general populace and by the1950s orchids were a mainstay of the floral trade. The unfortunate result was that indigenous forests were being decimated. In 1973 the CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) law was enacted, which prohibits importation of orchids from foreign lands. As a consequence, species (non-hybridized) orchids have virtually disappeared. JACK KRAMER TODAYBesides his many books, Jack is noted for magazine articles, television appearances, lectures, radio broadcasts, and newspaper articles. He was a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times from 1975 to 1983. Jack now lives, continues to write, and tends his collection of 3,000 orchids in Naples, Florida. “Here is your chance to see these masterpieces of nature as they originally flourished in their own countries. I hope you enjoy this exhibit as much as I have enjoyed growing and writing about orchids for forty years.” EXHIBIT / SALES / RECEPTIONJack has scheduled the HCR Library as the final venue for this traveling exhibition and has generously offered the art for sale with 25% of proceeds supporting the library. The framed and matted pieces of art will be available at prices ranging from $125 to $300. Join our reception on Tuesday, October 7, 5 to 7 pm, scheduled to coincide with the monthly meeting of the San Francisco Orchid Society. SFOS is a generous donor to the Library, having supported our entire collection of orchid books, periodicals, and binding for more than two decades. General Exhibit InformationLibrary hours: 10 am - 4 pm, seven days a week (closed on major holidays),
free of charge. Exhibitions of plant- and garden-related drawings, paintings,
photographs, and educational displays run for three-month periods. Twenty-five percent of all art sales benefit The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture. Story Time & Family Walk
Looking for a fun, free and easy-to-coordinate activity? Join us in our cozy children’s book nook with comfy kid-sized cushions, a bevy of stuffed animals and lively readers. Afterward, families can enjoy a special children's tour of the garden led by a docent. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
2008 Storytime Schedule:
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This event is suitable for children ages 4-8. Held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at 10:30 am, Story Time lasts approximately 30 minutes. The tour leaves the Library at 11. The Library also has an excellent collection of books for children on plants, natural history, general science, and nature-related myths and stories.