What do 30-foot-tall bamboo sculptures of birds, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, and two Florida Cornell Clubs have in common? The answers include:
a shared love of nature,
a commitment to the conservation of species, and
a desire to foster Big Red connections.
These motivations brought members of two Florida Cornell Clubs together in February at two of the state’s most renowned gardens. The Cornell Club of Eastern Florida gathered at McKee Botanical Gardens in Vero Beach on February 2, and the Cornell Club of Greater Miami and the Florida Keys gathered at Pinecrest Gardens in Miami on February 3.
Cornell’s associate director of U.S. Regional Engagement, R.J. Lavine, helped coordinate these events to immerse Florida Cornellians in art, culture, and horticulture—in their own backyards. Alumni and friends gathered beneath monumental avian sculptures co-created by artist Andy Moerlein MFA ’82, who shared the backstory for each piece.
After their garden stroll, alumni heard from Emily Detrick MPS ’16, Elizabeth Weaver Director of Horticulture at Cornell Botanic Gardens. Emily shared how Cornell Botanic Gardens is helping to conserve species, foster understanding of the natural world, and educate the next generation of leaders in conservation through its educational programs.
McKee Garden attendees gather for a group photo with the Cornell banner
“Our goal was to offer fun, multi-generational events that would encourage alumni to plug into the Cornell network, support lifelong learning and curiosity, and provide an opportunity to deepen their involvement with campus.” —R.J. Lavine, associate director of U.S. Regional Engagement, Cornell AAD
The ‘Wow’ factor
Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein MFA ’82, collectively known as The Myth Makers, are the artisans behind these impressive sculptures, which are primarily built of bamboo. Their sculptures are lightweight and have a low carbon footprint—with a lifespan of 3 to 5 years.
The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein MFA ’82, at a reception for “The Butterfly Fairy,” a sculpture commissioned by Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Massachusetts to celebrate the inauguration of their Pollinator Garden.
“We seek scale and aim for a bit of ‘wow’ when people encounter them.” —Andy Moerlein MFA ’82
The duo designed and built multiple sculptures for installation at the two Florida gardens. As a Cornell alum, Andy says he was, “eager to invite fellow Big Red arts enthusiasts to visit the gardens and tour the sculptures together.”
Each of the Myth Makers’ sculptures is an avian avatar, with a layered backstory. “We make site specific pieces that depict local birds, and link that bird’s particular habits, colors, or personality to an individual in the community where the work is shown—their ‘avatar,’” Andy explains. “The sculptures often recognize local unsung heroes, people who have an historic or cultural legacy in that place.”
See some of these avian avatars.
“Towering,” a 30-foot-tall sandhill crane, pays homage to early Miami settler Ebenezer Woodbury Franklin.
Event attendees view “Sietecolores” (Seven Colors), a sculpture of a painted bunting celebrating Miami’s first Hispanic Mayor, Maurice A. Ferré.
Rachel Blechman ’59 (center) admires “The Founding Peahen” sculpture.
“The Founding Peahen,” a 25-foot-tall peahen, honors Julia DeForest Tuttle, the “Mother of Miami.”
Karon Coleman ’88 sits next to her daughter Cecilia inside “Hidden in Plain Sight,” a 25-foot-tall Eastern screech owl. This sculpture acknowledges that this artwork and Pinecrest Gardens are located on the unceded ancestral homelands of Florida Native peoples.
The presenters and attendees agreed that there was a natural connection between the art and the living gardens.
(L to R) Sculptor Andy Moerlein MFA `82 poses with Mary “Buff” Penrose ’76, Karen Coveney ’76, and Karen Keating ’76
“I was excited to tour the sculptures with the artist and grateful for the opportunity to share the experience with Cornell classmates and several guests I invited along. The day was beautiful, the gardens never looked better, and everyone in our group truly appreciated the experience.” —Karen Coveney ’76, attendee at the McKee Garden event
10,000+ plants and so much more
Emily shared updates from Cornell Botanic Gardens, to reconnect alumni to this beloved space on campus. Alumni were asked to guess the Botanic Gardens’ acreage (3,800), number of waterfalls (15), number of plants in the living collections (over 10,000), and other fun facts.
She also introduced alumni to the breadth of the gardens’ recent programming, such as:
Learning by Leading, a program through which Cornell students build community while gaining valuable horticultural expertise and leadership skills
Cornell Health’s NatureRx program, where students receive prescriptions for time spent in nature to improve mental health
Asian Summer Garden, a future space that will celebrate the symbolism of plants in Asian cultures (especially peonies) through architectural design and plant selection
Emily under an impressive staghorn fern (Platycerium sp.) at The Kampong in Coconut Grove, FL
“I hope that participants felt a strong connection to Cornell Botanic Gardens as they remembered their own time spent there, or perhaps I piqued their interest to visit for the first time in the near future.” —Emily Detrick MPS ’16, Elizabeth Weaver Director of Horticulture at Cornell Botanic Gardens
She invites everyone to explore the many resources and videos on the Botanic Gardens’ website, and to join the gardens’ mailing list to receive news and sign up for virtual events.
