Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden will be home to an earth art piece designed for the Garden by renowned artist W. Gary Smith. His installation Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit will be the first artwork created in the Garden’s new Exhibit Garden. The opening of this area expands the Garden by more than 5 acres for the public to now explore 65 acres of gardens and woodlands.

Carbon Cycle is a celebration of ecological succession, celebrating the history of the land and setting precedent for the future.

The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the Earth into the atmosphere and back to the Earth again. This cycle has to remain in constant balance to keep the planet healthy. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is transforming land left in poor condition from deep and strip mining which occurred on the property. The Garden is reclaiming the land through the mitigation of acid mine draining and a reforestation program to allow ecological healing to take place. As the land begins to heal, the natural balance is restored. This process is the fundamental basis for the ideas explored in the installation.

In discussion about his vision and process, Gary said:

 “The main thing I want from visitors that come to this piece is some sort of personal transformation, some sort of personal experience that will be memorable. I want them to have a memory of visiting this place. I want them to have a personal relationship, a personal connection to nature, and then walk away and remember they had that connection. There’s a story, a particular narrative, that they’re also going to walk away with.”

Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit connects the serpentine line and the circle — two of the most powerful symbols throughout human culture. Visitors will be immersed into the piece as they walk the grassy serpentine path to the main center. The Highwall Path will provide an overview of the entire piece.

Join us at the Garden on September 30th to celebrate the opening of the new Exhibit Garden and the first installation in the space, Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit. During the reception, guests will hear from Executive Director Keith S. Kaiser and artist W. Gary Smith who will discuss the vision for the project and Gary’s process, as well as giving a guided walking tour of the exhibit. The Exhibit Garden will be officially open to the public beginning October 1, and is included with Daily Admission.

Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit is made possible through support from: Arconic Foundation, DLC, Giant Eagle, Laurel Foundation, MSA, and UPMC Health Plan.