Monday, June 16, 2008

Botanical Illustration and Sculpture Exhibition at USDA National Agricultural Library, Beltsville

Floral Expressions in Stone and Print, a joint exhibition by the National Agricultural Library (NAL) and sculptor and gardener John Jayson Sonnier will be on display at the National Agricultural Library's Beltsville location through August 29. The exhibit features fourteen of Sonnier's botanical sculptures paired with companion prints from NAL's rare book collection.

Floral Expressions in Stone and Print can be viewed on the first floor of the National Agricultural Library (located at 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD) weekdays, excepting federal holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information about the exhibition is available at http://www.nal.usda.gov/floralexpressions/.

Sculptor and gardener John Jayson Sonnier has been a notable presence in the DC Metro area for almost twenty years. His work has been shown at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the United States Botanic Garden, and the National Sculpture Society's Annual Exhibits. The sculptures on display in Floral Expressions in Stone and Print include representations of calla lilies, magnolias, orchids, iris, lotus, and jack in the pulpit created in limestone, marble and alabaster.

Rounding out the exhibition is a selection of botanical prints drawn from the rich resources of NAL's rare book collection. These prints, selected from 17th, 18th and 19th century botanical and natural history volumes, were chosen to complement Sonnier's sculptures and showcase some of the rare and significant materials held in NAL's Special Collections.


PETER R. YOUNG, Director
USDA National Agricultural Library

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