Brookgreen Gardens has welcomed the works of renowned glass artist Craig Mitchell Smith as part of a new installation for its summer series.
Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith showcases vibrant glass sculptures both large and small that capture nature's beauty. The pieces shine by day with intricate colors and details, and on select summer evenings are beautifully illuminated. The Michigan-based artist often depicts the natural environment in his work. In addition to the larger pieces, “there is a pop-up gallery of his smaller work in the Noble Gallery of the Rainey Pavilion,” states Lauren Joseph, Brookgreen Gardens’ vice president of marketing.
Brookgreen’s reputation as one of the most revered and celebrated sculpture gardens was one of the deciding factors in getting the artist to Murrells Inlet.
“It was really kismet!” Joseph notes. Gardens CEO Page Kiniry saw an article about Smith's exhibit last year, and got the ball rolling.
A life-long gardener, Smith sculpts his pieces with a garden motif in mind.
Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith exhibit consists of 31 pieces, including a blooming Yellow Jessamine vine (in honor of South Carolina’s official state flower) and a chandelier of glass Spanish moss. Some works were assembled on site.
As he told Joseph: “All of these pieces are designed to blend seamlessly into the Gardens, as if they were naturally planted there. It's been a wonderful experience collaborating with Brookgreen's team to plan their placements thoughtfully. "
Check out Brookgreen’s Summer Light: Art by Night, showcasing Smith’s glass sculptures on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6-10 p.m., and during the Gardens’ regular daytime hours.
Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith
1931 Brookgreen Dr., Murrells Inlet, SC
(843) 235-6000
General Admission: $12 kids; $22 adults; $20 seniors
brookgreen.org
