Nebraska may be a triple landlocked state, but that didn’t stop Sunken Gardens’ visitors from embracing the ocean for the 13th annual Art in the Garden on Saturday.
The free event followed this year’s Sunken Gardens theme of “Enchanted Ocean.” Along brick paths and vibrant blue and purple flowers, 50 artists presented and sold their work.
From acrylic paintings of jellyfish to beaded shell necklaces, artists were encouraged to interpret the oceanic theme in their own way.
Other forms of art were also featured. Musicians spread throughout the garden provided tunes as guests mingled with artists, while Irish dancing could be seen near the koi pond.
Mickey Tuttle of Lincoln enjoyed seeing the garden bustling with people, as she has a special connection to the botanical park.
Her daily routine used to include sitting on a bench in the garden and eating a Happy Meal over her lunch break, she said. Now, she comes to the Sunken Gardens a few times a year, one of those visits being for the Art in the Garden event.
Though she’s not a big spender, Tuttle said she enjoys supporting local artists and watching the community come together.
“People come from far and wide,” Tuttle said.
Saturday may have brought people from farther and wider than usual, with the Huskers hosting Michigan for Nebraska’s Big Ten opener.
Dressed head-to-toe in Michigan gear, Kip and Mere Barnes explored Lincoln before making their way to Memorial Stadium. They heard about Art in the Garden after visiting the Lincoln Children’s Zoo across the street.
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“For a small zoo, it was great,” Kip Barnes said.
Other guests didn’t travel quite as far to attend the art event, such as Syann Engelhard, a Near South Neighborhood Association member who has lived in the neighborhood her entire life.
She said it’s important for her neighborhood to support Art in the Garden, especially because residents have invested in the Sunken Gardens to ensure it remains accessible for the community.
One of Lincoln’s oldest neighborhoods, Engelhard said she loves the diversity of residents and the rich history of Near South.
“You can take any four homes and you’ll have 100 different stories,” Engelhard said.
For Dana Clements, owner of Clements Noyes Art Gallery, Art in the Garden embodies her personal mission: making art accessible to people of all economic backgrounds.
Featuring a wide range of price points, Clements said it’s incredibly rewarding to see all of the artists and attendees together. This was Clements Noyes Art Gallery’s second year hosting Art in the Garden, and Clements said the gallery will continue to do so.
Planning for the next Art in the Garden will begin almost as soon as this year’s event is over, Clements said.
All featured artists were members of the Clements Noyes Art Gallery, such as Linda Wymer, who has participated in Art in the Garden for the past five years.
Specializing in acrylics, Wymer said she fell in love with painting because of the freedom it brought her.
Art in the Garden is her main show each year, and Wymer said she loves interacting with so many new people in celebration of art.
“There are no boundaries to the people you’ll meet,” Wymer said.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7326 or lziskey@journalstar.com.
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