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Van Gogh Tribute Week: July 29 – Aug. 4
Jul 29
2019
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Van Gogh Tribute Week: July 29 – Aug. 4

By Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

There's always something new to see and do at Phipps! This weekly blog post provides a run-down of the latest happenings so you can plan your visit. Events listed below require no advance registration unless noted otherwise. 

Open Daily:

  • Van Gogh in Bloom
    Experience the captivating work of Vincent van Gogh brought to three-dimensional life through vibrant blooms, majestic trees and hand-crafted props as recreations of his legendary paintings take center stage at Phipps.
  • Butterfly Forest
    Watch colorful butterflies break free of their chrysalises to soar and glide among beautiful Phipps blooms. One may even land on you!
  • The Plants That Inspired Van Gogh: A Photographic Exploration
    In our Welcome Center Gallery, local photographer and Phipps volunteer Paul g. Wiegman highlights the essence of the plants that Vincent van Gogh was inspired to paint.
  • Invasives Most Wanted: A Youth Art Exhibition
    In the Center for Sustainable Landscapes Green Gallery, view fun "wanted poster"-style artworks about some of Western Pennsylvania's best known invasive species as created by middle school students involved in Phipps’ Fairchild Challenge.
  • Planets Earth
    A dynamic exhibit at the Center for Sustainable Landscapes addresses the pressing environmental issues of our time and proposes a new way of thinking about how to solve them.
  • Tropical Forest Cuba
    Experience the natural beauty and culture of Cuba, one of the most biodiverse Caribbean island nations on Earth, in our immersive new Tropical Forest exhibit.
  • Make the Switch at Phipps! Green Power Drive
    Join the more than 1,000 families who have switched their home electricity to 100% green power while visiting our Tropical Forest Conservatory and you can receive free Phipps membership!

Daily July 29 — Aug. 4 

  • Free Commemorative Art Print
    Guests attending Van Gogh in Bloom this week will receive a free commemorative print of Phipps’ “Self-Portrait with Straw Hat” floral display. Printed to 100% recycled stock and suitable for framing, this keepsake will be available only to guests attending July 29 – Aug. 4 while supplies last.

Mon., July 29:

  • Paint a Self-Portrait  |  10:30 a.m. – noon
    Children are invited to engage in a self-portrait painting craft inspired by Van Gogh’s many self-portrait works.
  • Fermentation Series: Lacto Fermented Pickling  |  6:30 — 8:30 p.m.  |  R.S.V.P. required 
    Late summer is the perfect time to preserve and upcycle some of our favorite fruits and vegetables into delicious fermented products to enjoy during the colder months. Join this introductory fermentation workshop to explore the world of pickling cucumbers, peppers and other produce. Learn about the health benefits of this process as well as the differences between vinegar pickling and lacto-fermentation pickling.

Tues., July 30:

  • Parks RX |  9:30 – 10:30 a.m.  |  R.S.V.P. required
    Connecting to nature is good for your body and mind. Let’s use our senses on a walk in the woods! Kathryn Hunninen of Pittsburgh Parks Conservatory will lead this nature exploration through activities that engage all of our senses.  Participants will also receive information from about the benefits of spending time in nature and resources for connecting to nature in parks around Pittsburgh.

Wed., July 31:

  • Story Time with Van Gogh and Friends*  |  10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
    Little ones will love listening to our storytellers share tales of Van Gogh and other famous painters followed by a painting-with-plants activity.

Thurs., Aug. 1:  

  • Story Time with Van Gogh and Friends*  |  10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
    Little ones will love listening to our storytellers share tales of Van Gogh and other famous painters followed by a painting-with-plants activity.
  • Biophilia: Pittsburgh: Van Gogh and the Garden  |  5:30 — 7 p.m.  |  R.S.V.P required 
    Join us at Café Phipps as Phipps Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino is joined by Carnegie Museum of Art Associate Curator of Education Lucy Stewart to discuss how nature inspired Van Gogh’s paintings and how Van Gogh inspired Phipps’ displays.
  • Carb Conscious Cooking: Pizza from Scratch  |  6 — 9 p.m.  |  R.S.V.P. required 
    When the moon hits your eye like a low carb pie, that’s amore! Explore low carb alternatives to traditional pizza crust and discover great ways to cut down on the carbohydrates without sacrificing flavor!

Fri., Aug. 2: 

  • Pot-a-Sunflower  |  10:30 a.m. – noon
    Kids can pot their own sunflower, like the ones which inspired Van Gogh’s famous series, to take home. 
  • Vincent van Gogh Docent Tours  |  11 a.m. — noon  |  R.S.V.P. required 
    Explore the life of Van Gogh during a guided tour through Phipps’ show.
  • Vincent van Gogh Docent Tours  |  12:30 — 1:30 p.m.  |  R.S.V.P. required
    Explore the life of Van Gogh during a guided tour through Phipps’ show.
  • Movie Night: Loving Vincent   |  7 — 8:45 p.m.  |  R.S.V.P. required 
    Utilizing an unprecedented process in which each shot has been rendered as an oil painting in the master’s signature style, Loving Vincent explores Van Gogh’s life and work in a way you’ve never seen before. See the film in our Botany Hall Auditorium with an introduction by Carnegie Museum of Art Associate Curator of Education Lucy Stewart, then see the Van Gogh in Bloom exhibit in a whole new light after dark, as Phipps is open until 10 p.m.
  • Friday Extended Hours  |  Open until 10 p.m.
    Enjoy the gardens by twilight — it's the perfect way to wind down the week!

Sat., Aug. 3:

Sun., Aug. 4:

*Story Time sessions are limited to 30 participants; participating families must check in at the admission desk in the Welcome Center where they will be given a special admission pass. Passes will be given on a first-come, first-served basis and are required to attend these sessions.

Photos © Paul g. Wiegman

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