The art show is a go! And what a show we are offering.

In collaboration with the key west botanical garden society, the schork~munsell is bringing KeyWest ArtGarden to the botanical garden on stock island that should recall the good old days of art-in-the-park. If you’re not already botanical garden supporters, this will be a great opportunity to come out, enjoy this beautiful community asset, and play among the sculptures.

Installation of the bulk of the art works will begin on 28h march, with the proviso that we not interfere with the current SculptureKeyWest expo. We expect to install eleven sculptures at that time, and are very pleased to count Jim Racchi, founder of Art-in-the-park, among our exhibitors. Also included with be a collection of sculptural, interactive musical instruments by denver-based designer Richard Cooke. Our opening event will be on the 2nd april.

Le bateau des fantome’s installation has been delayed a couple of weeks at the request of SculptureKeyWest, but we expect to have “the ship of ghosts” installed on the lake and open to the public by Monday, 18th april. As before, we will be inviting our community to leave messages to lost loved ones directly on the sculpture; writing materials will be provided. le bateau is made possible with generous funding from the anne mckee artists fund (key west) and Burnt oranges inc., the florida burning man regional (orlando).

Late april and early may we will be featuring a theatre experience never before seen in key west. importing the novel “moving theatre” concept ciari carinci has been producing in Gulfport, fl, for the past 14 years, she will be offering “theatre walk”-- an evening of ten minute plays three of which have been written especially for the botanical garden. The play series will start and end with a magical earth-spirit play on the stage in the courtyard; the earth spirits will then lead our audience on a nighttime tour of the garden to locations specifically chosen for each performance. We are still looking for talent, so if you know any performers looking for an interesting, exciting new project, please have them contact us: carinci at 727.321.1786, or schork at 305.304.3018.

Commencing with the opening of the show, and continuing through memorial day (30th mai), the schork~munsell studios will be soliciting visiting painters and photographers to reinterpret the artwork in the garden in their own medium. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded, and we will hang the twenty best submissions (we hope in the gallery at the tropic cinema). Please call for details, and look for the competition application form in our program, which will be available at the visitor center in the botanical garden.

In gratitude for the enormous opportunity the key west botanical garden society has given us to develop this community art asset in their garden, a portion of all proceeds will directly benefit the garden. We would also like to encourage you to become members if you haven’t already: the single membership is only $35/year, and the family membership (which I am given to believe includes grand mama and even the family dog) is only $50.

We will keep you updated on developments as they occur.

the next burn event: "le bateau des fantomes"

following on the unprecedented failure of the 2010 burn event for the moongate (which see), i have launched plans for next year's burn event-- let us hope that the second try's the charm.

the anne mckee artists fund of key west has given us a grant to fund the creation of the spruce frame for the sculpture, and the florida regional burning man organization-- burnt oranges-- has given us a big sum to help fund the event.

designs are finished; we have already begun collecting material for the sculpture. the next step is to submit the designs to SKW with crossed fingers that the sculpture will get past the jury.

stay tuned.