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Issue: 1136 Date: 5/31/2012
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Chinese Lantern Festival lights up Missouri Botanical Garden
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| Ceremonial Lighting of Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night May 25, 2012, 7:30 pm at Cohen Amphitheatre Remarks: W. Stephen Maritz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Maritz Holdings, Inc. Chairman, Missouri Botanical Garden Board of Trustees; Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, President, Missouri Botanical Garden; Daniel J. Ludeman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors Trustee, Missouri Botanical Garden; David N. Farr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Emerson Electric Company |
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A giant, luminous dragon, stretching nearly half the length of a football field, will welcome visitors to the Missouri Botanical Garden's "Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night," which opens Saturday and runs through Aug. 19.
A huge, color-changing spinning vase, surrounded by 8-foot-tall stems of lotus flowers symbolizes aspirations to "rise toward the light" in the Lotus Ponds.
A sail boat in the Dry Streambed Garden made from approximately 4,600 recycled plastic water bottles turns trash into a work of art.
Those are just a few of the 26 illuminated works of art from China designed to showcase Chinese culture, traditions and symbolism through larger-than-life displays lit for evening viewing.
"When most people think of a Chinese lantern, they immediately think of a small, round, hanging paper lantern," said Lynn Kerkemeyer, special exhibits and events manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden. "Visitors will be overwhelmed when they see what our lanterns actually are. These are incredible, vivid, elaborate sets created from thousands of pieces to form amazing, large-scale works of art. When illuminated at night, they are nothing short of awe-inspiring!"
Lantern Festivals are deeply rooted in Chinese history and myth, dating back more than 2,000 years. Modern-day festivals mark the culmination of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration when giant, ornate lanterns of complex design fill cities with vivid, festive displays.
The Lantern Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden highlights its "Year of China," celebrating the Garden's long tradition of botanical research and collaboration with China through the Flora of China project, a 25-year endeavor, and the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden.
The Lantern Festival sets have been erected outdoors throughout the northern half of the Garden grounds, anchored in grassy areas, pools and fountains. People, plants, animals, buildings and other scenery elements have been created in three-dimensional form by shaping steel to make an inner framework for each piece. Trained artisans stretched pieces of colorful silk tightly across it to form the lantern exteriors. Facial and other fine details are hand-painted. Interior lights make each piece pop brilliantly against the evening sky.
Each lantern set portrays an aspect of Chinese culture, history and tradition. Mythical dragons, traditional symbols of the Chinese people, are represented in many forms, from the mighty Welcoming Dragon to the towering Dragon Embracing the Pillars to the replication of Beijing's intricate Nine-Dragon Mural.
Several Chinese legends are depicted in great detail, including the celebrated tale of Jiang Tai Gong Fishing and The First Emperor's Quest for Immortality. Representations of the Terracotta Army warriors, Buddha, panda bears and lotus flowers showcase well recognized Chinese symbols.
"Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night" debuts with a festive, three-day Grand Opening Weekend celebration from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Enjoy traditional Chinese entertainment during the day, including a Grand Parade, dragon dances, t'ai chi and tours of the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden (the Chinese Garden).
The Lantern Festival continues throughout the summer. You can view the "magic by night" from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday evenings, May 31-July 29, and nightly from 6 to 10 Aug. 1-19. Visitors can stroll through the Garden at dusk to experience the ambiance and elements of traditional lantern festivals in Asia. Toss an oversized coin with dangling red ribbon into the special wishing tree. Turn your pocket change into luck at the wishing well by ringing one of the gongs for good health, wealth or happiness. Purchase tokens to exchange at traditional artisans' tents for souvenir merchandise and experiences, such as pearl engraving, seal carving or Jianzhi (paper cutting) silhouettes. Watch nightly stage performances by acrobats, dancers and musicians. Shop the special outdoor Lantern Festival Bazaar filled with Asian merchandise and souvenirs.
Pick up Asian-inspired fare available for purchase at the Food Court, including crispy pork pot stickers, vegetable egg rolls, crab Rangoon, fried rice, lo mein noodle salad and more. Additional dining selections are also available for purchase inside the Sassafras cafe at the Ridgway Visitor Center (open 6 to 8 on Lantern Festival evenings). And, of course, be amazed as the 26 lantern sets flood the Garden with light starting at 8 p.m.
What: "Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night"
When: May 26 through Aug. 19. Grand opening weekend: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Monday. May 31-July 29: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Aug. 1-19: 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Last entry is at 9 p.m. all nights.
Where: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis
Admission: Grand Opening Weekend/exhibition evenings: $22 adults, $10 children 3-12. Discounts for Garden members.
Free parking: available on site and two blocks west of the Garden at the corner of Shaw and Vandeventer.
Presented by: Emerson
Information: For details about the symbolism of each lantern, food, events and performers, go to
http://mobot.org/lanternfestival ; 800-642-8842.
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| Missouri Botanical Garden Lantern Festival producer Spencer Tan |
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Golden, President of Fontbonne University and Mr and Mrs. Spencer Tan |
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