Celebrate Shangri La
March 15 - June 28, 2008
In honor of the opening of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, Texas, this special exhibition features artistic representations of flora and fauna found in Shangri La. Works of art by artists such as John James Audubon and Dorothy Doughty vividly portray plants, birds and animals.
Both the Stark Museum and Shangri La result from the interests of H.J. Lutcher Stark and his wife, Nelda C. Stark. Lutcher Stark began collecting art as a college student and with his wife, Nelda, developed an important collection that became the basis of the Stark Museum of Art. He also created a botanical garden that became the site for the recently reopened Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Beyond their shared origin, both facilities reveal a mutual interest in the beauty of nature and in creativity inspired by the natural world.
“Not being a photographer or an artist, I have had to content myself with collecting the best that I can find on birds and flowers . . . .” wrote Lutcher Stark. Stark succeeded in acquiring masterpieces of natural history illustration. These works combine science and art through recording and documenting information on birds, plants and animals, while interpreting it through visual depictions.
We invite you, the visitor, to enhance your enjoyment and appreciation of nature and creativity through the artists’ extraordinary accomplishments.
Celebrate Shangri La has a special children’s activity area with interactive games and a reading table to increase understanding and engagement. In the activity area children can play a matching game comparing art and nature. They can also find a handout for a finding activity in the gallery and a take-home activity. Children can play a guessing game based on the exhibition and take their answer to the Museum Store for a prize.
Read the press release
Selected Works |
View the Exhibition List
Click on a thumbnail image to view a larger image of the art featured on the selected works page.