As Brookgreen Gardens continues to recover from damage left by severe storms on June 10th, the popular area botanical and sculpture garden has returned to normal operating hours and invites visitors to experience the beauty of the summer season with a vibrant lineup of programming this July.
Events include the ongoing after-hours lighted art exhibition Summer Light: Art by Night, a lecture on the sculptors behind some of our nation’s most recognizable monuments, as well as an opportunity for guests to have family heirlooms identified by a panel of experts. Please see below for full details on the events that Brookgreen guests can enjoy throughout the month, as well as information on how to support storm recovery efforts.
July Events:
Summer Light: Art by Night, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Now – Aug. 24, 6 – 10 p.m.
On these enchanting summer nights, thousands of bulbs will illuminate Brookgreen Gardens, offering guests an opportunity to see the National Historic Landmark in a new light. Brookgreen’s stunning landscapes, including the iconic Oak Allée, have come alive with 11 sparkling light installations created by Brookgreen’s public exhibits production and design team, the same talented group behind the beloved Nights of a Thousand Candles exhibition. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the gates reopen at 6 p.m. for Summer Light: Art by Night, where visitors can enjoy live music and savor dining and beverage options from Austin’s Harvest Restaurant, the Old Kitchen, and a selection of food trucks. For more information, schedule of bands and food trucks, and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.brookgreen.org/
Photo Walks in The Garden, July 3, 10 - 12 p.m.
Photographers Anne Malarich, George DeCamp, and Rick Farrell will take guests on a two-hour walk through Brookgreen Gardens with a camera in hand. Walks will cover photography topics like exposure and composition. Participants should have a good working knowledge of their cameras.
The Work of the Piccirilli Family by John Belardo, July 11, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brookgreen’s sculptor in residence, John Belardo, will give a lecture on the Piccirilli family, renowned sculptors and stone carvers who created some of America’s most iconic monuments, such as the Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C. and the Maine Memorial in New York City. Brookgreen’s collection includes sculpture by three Piccirilli brothers and a nephew.
Share Your History with Brookgreen, July 13, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Guests are invited to bring their family heirlooms, archival material, antique weapons and historic artifacts, especially those related to South Carolina history, to Brookgreen Gardens where experts will be available to identify guests’ objects. During the event staff will photograph the items, create a database, and offer the opportunity to lend them for future exhibitions. Everything from kitchen implements to fine silver and furniture to farm tools will be welcome, but no human remains, grave goods, or looted artifacts.
Dirt & Details: The Old Kitchen Garden with Jimmy Brandt, July 18, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Guests are invited to join Brookgreen Gardens' manager of horticulture, Jimmy Brandt, for a tour of the Old Kitchen Garden. Jimmy will show and discuss the garden theme and design of the Old Kitchen Garden, edibles as ornamentals, and plants with a purpose.
Open Studio, July 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Open Studio is a program that is open to the public once a month and invites guests to spend time with a sculptor and observe the various processes employed to produce a sculpture from clay to bronze.
Brookgreen 101, July 25, 1 – 2 p.m.
Brookgreen 101 is a monthly public information program held in the Wall Lowcountry Center's Ron Daise Auditorium. Rotating topics cover various aspects of Brookgreen Gardens, including its collections, property, history, people, poetry, art history, corporate history, founders, and purposes. July’s topic will focus on Archaeological Investigation of Laurel Hill: An Update with guest speaker David Palmer, Ph.D., Coastal Carolina University.
Exhibitions:
Societal Contrasts: Past and Present by Arun Drummond, Now – July 28, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Arun Drummond’s exhibition Societal Contrasts: Past and Present will spotlight two contrasting facets of American history. Depicted in everyday attire while practicing sweetgrass basket weaving, these paintings highlight the post-Emancipation struggles faced by Black individuals, underscored by a subdued color palette and simple frames. The exhibition aims to illuminate the stark disparity between widespread poverty and concentrated wealth among Black Americans in the past, urging a reexamination of this neglected history.
National Sculpture Society’s 91st Annual Awards Exhibition, Now – July 21, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The premier annual exhibition of American figurative sculpture returns to Brookgreen Gardens. Featuring the work of American masters alongside rising stars, the National Sculpture Society's Annual Awards Exhibition presents the finest in contemporary figurative sculpture. Those visiting Brookgreen Gardens will vote for their favorites to win the People's Choice Award, which will be announced at the conclusion of the exhibit.
Help Us Heal Storm Recovery:
Over 300 labor hours were spent on cleanup alone in the first two days after the devastating storms on June 10 that damaged or destroyed over 250 trees and briefly disrupted daily operations. The dedicated staff continues a herculean effort to heal the Gardens and assure that it can fulfill its mission of preservation. Gifts in support of storm recovery efforts at Brookgreen Gardens can be made online at https://www.brookgreen.org/
For more information about Brookgreen Gardens and its upcoming programming, visit www.brookgreen.org.
