The Huntington Museum of Art is excited to announce the installation of a new display in the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory.
Situated along the north wall of the Conservatory, visitors will find a newly planted “living wall.” This 40’ x 6’ living wall system holds 540 felt pockets made from recycled plastic supporting a diverse planting of begonias, bromeliads, ferns, and more.
This project was made possible through funding from the Huntington Foundation and contains plants sourced from Hatcher’s Greenhouse, Terra Fate Native Plant Nursery and Tropical Greenhouse, Glasshouse Works, propagations from the Edwards Conservatory living collection, and donations from local plant enthusiasts. The installation couldn’t have happened without the skilled hands of HMA’s Facilities Department.
“I hoped this permanent installation would further add to the tropical ambiance of the space, creating a serene backdrop for the wonderful memories made at HMA,” said Josh Hamrick, HMA Conservatory Director. “While selecting plants for the wall, I was inspired by folks personally close to me as well as people who had important ties to HMA.”
Hamrick explained how he chose the plants for the hundreds of felt pockets in the “living wall” system.
“Dotted throughout the display are New Guinea impatiens which remind me of my maternal grandmother whose love of plants inspired me from a young age,” Hamrick said. “Bromeliads are one of my partner’s favorite plants and a favorite of the late Janet Bromley. Janet, who was principal second violinist of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra for several years and a great supporter of arts and music, brought our ‘Look, Listen, and Move Tour’ to life in the 1970s. The tour continues to be a highlight for Cabell County fourth-grade students.”
Various begonias were chosen to honor a longtime employee of the Huntington Museum of Art.
“I selected a beautiful assortment of begonias based on the tastes of former HMA Curator and collector of begonias and orchids, the late Louise Polan,” Hamrick said. “Louise was fond of brilliantly colored begonias with unique textures, many of which resemble stained glass when viewed from below; a trait I imagine blended well with her love of studio glass.”
A location used in a famous movie inspired some of the other plants chosen for the “living wall” system.
“Finally, I used a wide variety of ferns which remind me of a birthday trip to Fern Canyon in Redwood National & State Parks in California where scenes from ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ were filmed,” Hamrick said. “Big thanks to a special friend who made that dream come true. The 50’ vertical walls of the canyon created a natural living wall of lush maidenhair ferns that felt simply otherworldly; a vibe I wanted to channel in our Conservatory.”
For more information on the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory and the Huntington Museum of Art, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701. HMA is fully accessible.
West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.