UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden » Nature’s Gallery Court

Director Kathleen Socolofsky receives Award of Distinction

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:55:18 +0000

Kathleen Socolofsky, director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, was honored October 5 with an “Award of Distinction” from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES). “The Award of Distinction recipients are highly accomplished, as well as influential in their daily lives, and we are honored by their strong connection to and support of our college,“ said Mary Delany, interim CA&ES dean. The award is presented annually to those whose contributions and achievements enhance the college’s ability to provide cutting-edge research, top-notch education, and innovative outreach. Kathleen was recognized as a Friend of the College for her role in transforming the campus landscape with innovative programs and broad-based support. Seven other people–faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college–also received the award. Kathleen has led the Arboretum, in partnership with a number of CA&ES programs, in the transformation of the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove into a destination for visitors and the development of Nature’s Gallery Court GATEway (Gardens, Arts, and the Environment) Garden, and is in the process of creating an Animal Science GATEway Garden designed to connect campus and Arboretum visitors with the Department of Animal Science, its research and facilities. Congratulations Kathleen!

Premiere 2012 fall plant sale inspires admirers and acquirers!

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:20:17 +0000

Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum hosted their first plant sale of the fall season on Saturday, September 29. The theme, “Showcasing the Plants of Nature’s Gallery Court,” highlighted the connection between the Nature’s Gallery Court GATEway Garden, the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden and the Arboretum Teaching Nursery. In the nursery, customers were introduced to the wide array of plants featured on the Nature’s Gallery Court mural; at the mural, visitors could see which plants were available for purchase at the nursery; and, in the Storer garden they walked the landscape that inspired the mural and discovered the beauty of the plants in their mature forms. Docents and Arboretum experts were available in each location to answer questions, tell our visitors and customers the story of our latest community-built emblem and assist them in making the right choices for their own landscapes. Great press coverage encouraged another great turnout! Read the articles here: _______________________________________
Link to Davis Enterprise article _______________________________________
Link to Sac Bee article _______________________________________ Link to UC Davis Dateline article _______________________________________ Check out our photos from the event!

Nature’s Gallery Court completed and ribbon cut!

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:45:29 +0000

Saturday, June 9 marked the official dedication and ribbon-cutting of Nature’s Gallery Court. Donors, honorees, project supporters and their guests gathered this windy morning to celebrate the completion of a new campus landmark—the Nature’s Gallery Court GATEway Garden. Years-in-the-making, Nature’s Gallery Court would not have been possible without the energy and commitment of hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members who, in 2007, hand-crafted over 140 tiles showcasing the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden’s drought-tolerant plants and their associated insects. To commemorate the momentous occasion Kathleen Socolofsky, Director of the UC Davis Arboretum, spoke of community involvement in the project and the hundreds of people that participated in its planning, creation and funding; Diane Ullman, Co-founder of the UC Davis Art-Science Fusion Program and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences gave a moving speech about the connection between science and the arts; Donna Billick, world-renown ceramic artist and Co-founder of the UC Davis Art-Science Program, inspired the audience by describing the physical and spiritual connection born during an experiential learning process; Warren Roberts, Superintendent Emeritus of the UC Davis Arboretum, eloquently described the project’s unique historical context and location; while other supporters powerfully relayed their reason for giving to support Nature’s Gallery Court. If all this weren’t enough, the UC Davis Arboretum also received a certificate of special congressional recognition for its work in the creation of Nature’s Gallery Court from Congressman Mike Thompson! If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll visit Nature’s Gallery Court GATEway Garden soon! Learn more about Nature's Gallery Court and its construction here. Check out a slideshow of photos from the event here.

UC Davis Magazine cover story!

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:30:02 +0000

We are excited to announce that the UC Davis GATEways Project and the Arboretum & Public Garden Initiative story has been covered (literally!) by UC Davis Magazine. UC Davis Magazine is published quarterly and circulated to more than 230,000 households including alumni, faculty, parents of students, donors and other friends of campus. The Summer 2012 issue features the UC Davis Arboretum on the cover and inside describes the launch, mission and future of the UC Davis Public Garden Initiative and GATEways Project. Download a .pdf of the article here courtesy of UC Davis Magazine.

Nature’s Gallery Court update

Katie Hetrick — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:25:26 +0000

The last two weeks have been a flurry of activity at Nature's Gallery Court as co-founders of the UC Davis Art-Science Fusion program Diane Ullman and Donna Billick have been able to install the Nature's Gallery mosaic mural of 140 tiles hand-crafted by UC Davis students, staff, faculty and community members. The art is truly stunning in its new home and is sure to become a famous campus landmark. Read more about Nature's Gallery Court and its construction here. View a slideshow of the progress here.

Nature’s Gallery Court update

Katie Hetrick — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:18:50 +0000

The decomposed granite pathway and plaza are now complete! Art-Science Fusion artist Donna Billick has traced out the layout of the tiles on the wall and is waiting for the right weather to begin the installation process. Look for her out at the site starting around April 4 (weather permitting). Nature's Gallery Court will be open this spring!

READ MORE about the construction of this unique new event venue featuring Nature's Gallery, a mosaic mural composed of over 140 tiles hand-crafted by UC Davis students, faculty, staff and community members.

GO TO THE SLIDESHOW to see Nature's Gallery Court construction.

Nature’s Gallery Court update

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:14:43 +0000

The outer walls of Nature's Gallery Court were stuccoed in addition to the wall caps and base tiles being installed. The front-facing sides of the walls will not be stuccoed because this is where the hand-crafted and engraved dedication tiles will be positioned this spring! To read more about the history of this community supported project click here.

Nature’s Gallery Court update

Katie Hetrick — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:05:29 +0000

View photos of the progress of this construction project on our Flickr site! Our contractor is almost done with his portion of the job! Yet for him to complete are the stuccoing of the walls and the installation of the wall caps. Staff from Civil and Industrial Services will be installing the decomposed granite pathways and patio, a team lead by Ellen Zagory, Arboretum Director of Horticulture, will be planting the surrounding gardens, and the one-of-a-kind tiles, hand-crafted by community members, will be installed! Read more about this project here.

Nature’s Gallery Court update: wall and benches in place!

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:15:12 +0000

Despite the wind and the rain, construction of Nature's Gallery Court continues to move forward. The wall is up and the benches are in! You can really see the area taking shape now! For more information about this project and how it evolved as a result of community support click here.

Nature’s Gallery Court construction progress

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:58:02 +0000

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. 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.

Nature’s Gallery Court construction begins

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:00:50 +0000

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.

Coming Soon: Nature’s Gallery Court!

Katie Hetrick — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:00:24 +0000

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.

Nature’s Gallery Court Preview Party Report

Katie Hetrick — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:50:36 +0000

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.