Simply Elemental 2018
Simply Elemental is an outdoor, multi-artist installation held annually at the beautiful Hahn Horticulture Garden located on the campus of Virginia Tech. 2018 marks the first time that Simply Elemental has also included live performance art to accompany the visual art installations. Visit the garden anytime (dawn to dusk) to check out the visual art displayed in the garden. Keep an eye on our event calendar for special performances presented as part of Simply Elemental in August and September.
According to this year’s chair: “Each year Simply Elemental develops its own theme as the work is installed. One year it was full of interactive pieces, another found mushrooms popping up all over. This year Simply Elemental 2018 has evolved with two themes. One is environmental consciousness: concerns for the environment and how we use our resources are evident in much of the work. Pieces address the damaging impact of waste and both the need to and the ability to reuse and recycle materials to stop the waste stream that goes from our homes and offices to land and ocean. Others show how repurposed materials bring focus to the joy of life.
The second theme is music and motion. Music and motion are established by the performance artists, who have joined Simply Elemental for the first time. In addition, many of the installation pieces move gently in the breeze twisting and turning, fluttering and shimmering.
These two themes blend to make us realize deeply the value and joy of life surrounded by nature and the fragility of that bond if we fail to respect and nurture the life of plants around us.”
Additional comments from Simply Elemental 2018 Chair, Diane Relf, explaining the combined vision evolved by the artists presenting their work in this year’s Simply Elemental, is found here
Art Exhibition Dates: August 1 to September 30, 2018
Simply Elemental Performance Art has been scheduled for the following dates, but watch for additions to the schedule:
| Event | Date |
| Artist Reception | August 5th, 2:00 to 4:00pm |
| Panda Bag | August 5th, during the Artist Reception |
| The Bubble Man | August 5th, during the Artist Reception |
| Tai Chi & Body Flow in the Gardens | August 30th, 6:00 to 7:30pm |
| Music and Poetry in the Allee | September 12th, 6:00 to 8:00pm |
| Ebru Bish and Renate Kehlenbeck | September 12th, during Music and Poetry in the Allee |
| John Hildreth | September 12th, during Music and Poetry in the Allee |
| Poets: Piper Durrell, Diane Porter Goff, B. Chelsea Adams | September 12th, during Music and Poetry in the Allee |
| Spectral Arts | September 12th, during Music and Poetry in the Allee |
| Learn at Lunch - Mindfulness & Wellness | September 19th, 12:00 to 1:00pm |
| Learn at Lunch - Artist Perspective: Gerri Young | September 26th, 12:00 to 1:00pm |
| Closing Reception & Pop-up Festival | September 30th, 1:00 to 5:00pm (Art pieces will be available for sale 2:00 to 4:00pm on 9/30) |
Upcoming Live Performances
Please tag shared photos on social media with #SimplyElemental
Map showing locations of the pieces will be coming soon.
For additional information on individual artists and their art pieces, please click below:
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| Location / Title (click for more info) | Artist | |
| 00. Glorious Glass Flowers | Richard Hammer | |
| 1. Cattails | Dave Angle and Diane Relf | |
| 2. Bleached Floral Coral | Diane Relf | |
| 3. Gazing Cube | Terry Ellen Carter | |
| 4. Courtship | Lauren Collver and Michael Collver | |
| 5. CMY Bench I | Darcy Meeker | |
| 6. Alternate Universes | Diane Relf and Dave Angle | |
| 7. Make Your Own Art (SE 2016) | Dave Angle, Paul Chumbley, and Diane Relf | |
| 8. Simply Irresistible! (SE 2017) | Lauren Collver and Michael Collver | |
| 9. Rosalyn the Rustic Ruminant | Diane Relf and Dave Angle | |
| 10. Organic Sprawl | Henry Whitehurst | |
| 11. Crystal Flowers | Susan V. Lockwood | |
| 12. Cattywampus Caterpillar | Gerri Young and Nancy Norton | |
| 13. Treasures of Time | Rhonda T. Whitehurst | |
| 14. Wind Instrument | Kathy Elich | |
| 15. Frogs on a frame | Robi Sallee | |
| 16. Three Coins | Robert H. Smith | |
| 17. Virtual Variations on Various Vexations (SE 2015) | Lauren Collver | |
| 18.Rising Sun | Judy Lindberg | |
| 19. Birdie Badminton | Gayle Jackson and Katherine Quinn | |
| 20. Iridescence | Christiansburg High School Art Department (Laura Graham) | |
| 21. The Power of the Purse | NRV Master Gardeners | |
| 22.Trashy | Robi Sallee | |
| 23. Peeping Peepers | Robi Sallee | |
| 24. Poesy Prints | Passek-Collver Family | |
| 25. Tree Trunks and Leaves Hang Out | Jennifer Lovejoy | |
| 26. Grandma's Gorgeous Glass Gazebo | Richard P. Hammer | |
| 27. Blacksburg - We Are All One | Donald Sunshine | |
| 28. Passage | Donald Sunshine and JoAnna Sunshine | |
| 29. Blacksburg By Design | Joanna Sunshine | |
| 30. Next Season | Shelley O’Connor | |
| 31. Circles of Color | Terry Warthen | |
| 32.Through the Looking Glass | Linda Correll | |
| 33. Eve's Apple | Delbert Jones | |
| 34. Circle of Life | Anne Panella | |
| 35. Twisting in the Wind | Suzy Edlund | |
| 36. Minding the Wind | Suzy Edlund | |
| 37.Singing The Wind’s Song | Paul Zenner | |
| 38. Gourdelier | Anne Panella | |
| 39. Lions and Tigers and Dragons, Oh My! | Linda Correll | |