Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/759468
DECEMBER 7-13, 2016 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM EVENTS This season the Cape Fear Botanical Garden has a calendar packed full of events for the entire family. First is the Nature Connects Art with Lego Bricks Exhibit, which will run until Jan. 8. "Inspired by nature and built from nearly half-a-million LEGO® pieces, the Nature Connects® exhibit features larger-than-life sculptures representing the complex and amazing network that interconnects all living things on Earth. Ranging in size from inches to nearly 8 feet tall, including a tiger swallowtail butterfly, a green darner dragonfly, and some surprises, the 27 sculptures are arranged in 15 displays throughout the Garden," said Meg Suraci, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden director of marketing. The exhibit is included with the price of garden admission. These larger-than- life interpretations of nature offer a new take on common garden themes. The artist who designed the exhibit is Sean Kenney who fell in love with LEGO bricks in his childhood. He has been working with the little blocks as his medium for almost a decade and was the first of now only 13 LEGO Certified Professionals in the world. "His work has been featured in major media from The New York Times to BBC News," Suraci said, "A self-described 'professional kid,' Sean uses LEGO bricks to create things that connect to the larger world. He hopes that after seeing his sculptures children will become inspired to create great things themselves." This exhibit is designed to engage the entire family in fun conversations revolving around creativity and the environment. "The exhibit includes educational activities for all ages, a hands-on LEGO brick building station and design/build competitions. At each sculpture, an interpretative sign includes an environmental education message, a fun fact, and the number of LEGO® bricks used in creating the piece," Suraci explained. Another exciting activity for the whole family to enjoy is the annual Holiday Lights in the Garden that begins on Dec. 9 and runs until Dec. 30. Every winter the Garden embraces and enhances the natural beauty that the plants have in the winter. It takes a lot of hard work and carful planning to assemble this display, as it includes 300,000 lights that adorn the plants and trees and some sculptures in the gardens. They add to the natural winter beauty of the plants. "The Garden's horticulture staff designs the display. Together with staff from other departments and volunteers, the lights are installed over a number of weeks," Suraci said. In addition to the beautiful display, Holiday Lights in the Garden also includes family-friendly activities. According to Suraci, activities include: pathways featuring seasonal light displays to stroll along, a synchronized show of lights and music shimmering over the Cypress Pond, s'mores roasting over fire pits, photos with Santa and a complimentary holiday craft station. On select evenings live entertainment is scheduled while refreshments and beverages will available for purchase. "The Garden Gift Shop, brimming with holiday gift selections, will be open each evening," Suraci said. Tickets can be purchased online at www.capefearbg.org. Botanical Garden Offers a Variety of Activities for the Holidays by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Holiday Lights at Cape Fear Botanical Garden opens Dec. 9. THE PRINT SHOP THAT DOES SIGNS & THE SIGN SHOP THAT DOES PRINT! THE PRINT SHOP THAT DOES SIGNS & THE SIGN SHOP THAT DOES PRINT! THE PRINT SHOP THAT DOES SIGNS & THE SIGN SHOP THAT DOES PRINT! 2703 Raeford Road www.BizCardXpress.com