Marin’s creative spirit is deeply rooted in and inspired by the stunning local landscape, which invites art and nature to naturally intertwine. This spirit is in full bloom this summer with Cedars in the Garden, a new art exhibition born from a collaboration between two beloved local nonprofits: Cedars and the Marin Art and Garden Center.
Ideal for anyone who delights in strolling through vibrant gardens, lingering over blooms and fountains or discovering new perspectives in local artwork, this late-summer exhibition offers all of that and more. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Marin Art and Garden Center while engaging with the imaginative creations of Cedars’ artists, whose work celebrates place and community.
Supporting a heartwarming collaboration between two, Cedars in the Garden is as much an opportunity to connect with arts and nature as it is to experience the joy of community in action. One can consider this their official invitation to come see the garden and art show for themself.
But before hopping into the car for a spontaneous garden and art adventure, one may take a moment to learn some of the story behind the show. Cedars in the Garden celebrates not only the garden center’s 80th anniversary but also the talent of Cedars’ artists, who drew inspiration directly from the gardens to create works that capture their beauty through multiple artistic perspectives.
Founded in 1919, Cedars has served Marin for more than a century, providing essential support to adults with developmental disabilities. Today, the organization serves nearly 200 individuals daily through programs that foster creativity, independence and community engagement.
“At Cedars, we believe that art has the power to connect people with nature, with one another and with themselves,” said Cedars co-executive director Chuck Greene.
Cedars’ artists work in multiple disciplines, and many of their creations are available for purchase at the nonprofit’s one-site location: Artist Within – A Cedars Gallery, located in downtown San Anselmo. Through the gallery and other such programs, Cedars is able to continue its century-long mission of helping create avenues that pave the way for their members to live full, productive lives rich in the creative spirit while also contributing to Marin’s cultural landscape.
One such cultural landscape just so happens to be the Marin Art and Garden Center, where a truly heartwarming community collaboration is taking place between the historic garden and Cedars’ community of artists. To mark the center’s 80th anniversary, Cedars participants were invited onto the grounds for plein air painting sessions, drawing inspiration from the vibrant plantings, winding pathways and natural beauty of the 11-acre site. The resulting works (alongside paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces created in Cedars’ studios) comprise the pieces being shared in the joint exhibition, with works split between galleries at Cedars and at the garden center.
To mark the center’s 80th anniversary, Cedars participants were invited onto the grounds for plein air painting sessions, drawing inspiration from the vibrant plantings, winding pathways and natural beauty of the 11-acre site. The resulting works (alongside paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces created in Cedars’ studios) comprise the pieces being shared in the joint exhibition, with works split between galleries at Cedars and at the garden center.
“We are honored to collaborate with Cedars and to see our gardens become a source of inspiration for such heartfelt and imaginative work,” said executive director of the Marin Art and Garden Center, Iris Lax. “This partnership beautifully reflects the power of art and nature to nurture creativity and connection within our community. Supporting local artists and other nonprofits has been a legacy of Marin Art and Garden Center for more than 80 years. We’re very proud of this legacy, and we hope that these initiatives serve as a model to other organizations in the community.”
Through this collaboration, our artists not only captured the beauty of the Marin Art and Garden Center but also reflected the joy and creativity that blossoms when our community comes together,” added Greene. “We are proud to share their vision and to celebrate both the garden’s history and the artistry of the Cedars community.”
Wandering through Marin Art and Garden Center, it’s easy to see how Cedars artists found their inspiration. In fact, it’s rather difficult to visit the garden center without finding a muse or two tucked between sprawling lawns and gardens, the fairy-tale-esque fountain and such a stunning rose garden.
And the poetic resonance of walking through those same landscapes depicted within the gallery itself … well, it just adds to the experience. After all, the entire experience is just one long walk through the gardens. The Cedars in the Garden exhibition extends those landscapes further, showing the gardens through the eyes of the artists. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and those who visit the exhibit can experience the unique pleasure of beholding the same place with double the beauty.
“Our artists captured the beauty of the garden while showing how creativity blossoms when community comes together,” said Greene. “We’re proud to share their vision and celebrate both Marin Art and Garden Center’s history and the artistry of Cedars.”
“This was not the first time the two organizations have collaborated. But this year, much of the work was created to capture the beauty of Marin Art and Garden,” said Cedars co-executive director Cheryl White. “Our missions are so well aligned, it’s a pleasure celebrating the beauty and artistic talent of our community and sharing it with our neighbors in Marin.”
It’s no secret that Marin residents have long cherished the garden center as a place to gather, reflect and celebrate the arts. And the Cedars in the Garden exhibition offers yet another fantastic reason to reserve some time to stop and smell the roses, literally and in a more metaphorical sense as well.
Whether one is tempted to come on out for a summer stroll among the blooms, to take in the vibrant artworks on display or simply indulge in a healthy blend of both, Cedars in the Garden offers a chance to truly appreciate the community’s creativity in its full, late-summer bloom. So one may not want to miss the opportunity to experience the gardens twice over: once beneath the redwoods and roses, and again through the works of Cedars’ artists in the gallery.
“We are thrilled that with our long histories in the community, our two organizations have collaborated to create this show as our historic campus celebrates its 80th year,” said Lax. “We were thrilled to welcome Cedars artists to our campus, and to see the gardens through their eyes, and to share their work with our visitors.”
So, one may want to take some inspiration from the bumblebee and get busy buzzing on over to this sweet art show while it’s still in full bloom. An absolutely lovely late summer day of art and gardens awaits those who do.
The ‘Cedars in the Garden’ art exhibition opens to the public from 11am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Studio Gallery at Marin Art and Garden Center. The show will be on display from now until Sept. 13. On Sept. 14, the exhibition will close with an exclusive viewing during the garden center’s annual Edible Garden fundraiser. To learn more, visit maringarden.org. Or visit cedarslife.org for more information about Cedars, its artists and art shows.
