Nature’s Gallery Court construction progress

On November 1st, the footings for this project were dug by Civil and Industrial Services team members and operating engineers Alan Mazzoleni, Matt Hayes and Armando Garcia.

Yesterday the concrete foundation for the central wall was poured and set by Contractor Steve Stombler and his crew.

The addition of Nature’s Gallery Court to the west end of the Arboretum is sure to be a draw for visitors to the campus and the Arboretum; it will serve as an example of how our UC Davis community of volunteers and sponsors supported this installation with their time, creativity and donations.

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To read more articles about this project click here. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can support this installation click here.

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Nature’s Gallery Court construction begins

Nature’s Gallery Court construction has begun! The design for this courtyard was created by UC Davis alumnus Ron Lutsko, recent recipient of an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects. His plan highlights the Nature’s Gallery mural–a creation of many hands–through a collaboration between the UC Davis Arboretum and the Art-Science Fusion Program.

The Nature’s Gallery ceramic mosaic mural is a stunning work of art composed of over 140 tiles—hand-crafted by students, staff, faculty, and community members—each showcasing diverse drought-tolerant plants or insects found in the Arboretum’s Ruth Risdon Storer Garden.  Not only did community members help create the art, they also helped fund its installation.  Their donations also support the campus’s Art-Science Fusion program which serves as the catalyst for this and similar community art projects.

Campus Planning and Landscape Architecture is project managing the overall installation of this unique venue. The photo below shows Steve Stombler, Contractor, laying out the plans in preparation for the footings which are scheduled to be dug next week by Civil and Industrial Services. The project is located at the west end of the Arboretum just off Garrod Drive, near the Arboretum Teaching Nursery and Veterinary Medicine.

Between the academic Art-Science Fusion program that brought this concept to life, all the individuals from students to community members involved in its artistic creation, and the administrative coordination involved in seeing this project to fruition, this installation has truly been a team effort!

To read more articles about this project click here. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can support this installation click here.

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Coming Soon: Nature’s Gallery Court!

Anticipation is growing about the installation of the Nature’s Gallery mural and courtyard!  The Nature’s Gallery mural is a stunning work of art, composed of over 140 tiles hand-crafted by UC Davis students, staff, faculty, and community members.  Each tile showcases a different drought-tolerant plant from the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden in the Arboretum or an associated insect.

The mural will stand in an inviting tree-lined courtyard between the Storer Garden and Arboretum Teaching Nursery.   In addition to being a beautiful new entry feature at the Arboretum’s west end, Nature’s Gallery will also serve as an integral part of our youth and adult education programs.

When you visit the Arboretum, you’ll see construction fencing around the Nature’s Gallery location.  Site preparation has started in anticipation of wall and courtyard construction this fall and winter.

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Nature’s Gallery Court Preview Party Report

Special preview parties held on August 25 and September 10, offered Nature’s Gallery donors an insider peek at plans for the Nature’s Gallery installation.  The 60+ guests attending each event enjoyed the chance to experience how the tiles were designed and created, walk the layout of the site, see the construction plans, learn about the design of the surrounding planting beds and mingle with other supporters and staff.   Arboretum Director Kathleen Socolosky officially welcomed and thanked Nature’s Gallery donors and the exceptional partners and participants who made this project possible.  On September 10, a number of donors in attendance also shared the personal stories of their tile dedications during the program.  The wide range of stories was touching and varied – honoring living loved ones, memorializing family members, leaving a mark in a place they loved – and captured wonderfully the many ways that people feel connected with the Arboretum.

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