The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang recently unveiled two new art installations, both of which can be viewed from the sidewalk outside of the museum. Local artist Holli Harmon’s work is on display in the Tower Gallery installation, The Nature of Clouds, while a separate window installation, Wintering: A Fox Tale, was created by artist Nicole Strasburg.
The Nature of Clouds consists of chandelier crystals and plants suspended in the air at varying heights, under a ceiling designed to resemble a cloudy sky. The installation was partially inspired by Richard Hamblyn’s book, The Invention of Clouds, Harmon said in a statement from the Wildling Museum.
“This current installation is my newest interpretation of the transpiration of water from earth, to plants, to sky,” Harmon said in the statement.
The window installation, Wintering: A Fox Tale, showcases a series of paper-cut fox silhouettes designed by Strasburg to “bring joy and wonder to passersby during the museum’s extended closure.” The silhouettes are illuminated at night, transforming the windows into a dramatic winter landscape once lit.
“We wanted to create something exciting for the windows that would let everyone know we were only hibernating, not closed forever,” Strasburg said in the statement. “With my love for animals and the fox being the Wildling Museum’s mascot, it seemed fitting to do something with a fox theme.”
Call (805) 688-1082 or visit wildlingmuseum.org to find out more about the Wildling Museum’s public art installations. The museum is located at 1511 Mission Drive, unit B, Solvang.
This article appears in Feb 4-11, 2021.