The Alys Stephens Center’s ArtPlay is branching out with a new spring class, GardenPlay, devoted to growing a creative garden.
Gardens are plots of nature, designed and arranged according to the needs and whims of a human caretaker. They can be symbols of culture, ritual and mythology. In the GardenPlay class students will explore the relationship between gardens and the arts, explore the origin of the garden, how garden philosophies have evolved and human reverence for natural spaces. The class will guide students on how to create a garden as an expression of self, a creative outlet, a tranquil respite, a haven for wildlife or a potager for cooking.
The class will be taught by ArtPlay teaching artist Michelle Reynolds, a gardener, garden writer and speaker, musician and fabric artist. Reynolds also coordinates volunteers for the native plant gardens she helps to maintain at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Reynolds will help others connect with the wonders of nature, develop their own sense of style and incorporate their own personality into their gardens. On any yard, patio or balcony, there is opportunity to design and plant a garden.
The two-hour, weekly class will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, April 11-June 13, 2012, in the ArtPlay house, 1006 19th St. South. The class is open to adults and teens 16 and older. The cost of the class is $200; registration is open now. Call ArtPlay at 205-975-4769.