The Hahn Horticulture Garden (HHG) is not only a fabulous collection of living art; it is a showplace for artists from throughout the New River Valley and surrounding area. The Pavilion hosts 6 artist a year with a wide diversity of visual arts from photography to handmade paper; acrylics, watercolors and oils; mono-printing to metal work. The love of nature is shown in the creativeness of our local artists.
In 2015 the art went outside and Simply Elemental was born. Simply Elemental is an outdoor multi-artist installation integrated along the garden paths, plantings, and trees of the HHG. It is held annually from August 1st and September 30th. Simply Elemental 2018 was the first time that Performing Artists were also included.
In conjunction with the art show, the HHG has conducted a variety of events, including meet the artists receptions, hands-on art workshops, speakers and garden-art tours. Watch our events calendar for dates.
Please click the tabs below form more information on art being displayed in the Garden.
Please note that all art exhibits have been postponed until the Pavilion building is no longer closed to the public due to COVID-19.
Simply Elemental is an outdoor, multi-artist installation integrated along the garden paths, plantings, and trees of the Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech. It is held annually between August 1st and September 30th.
For additional information on the event, please visit the Simply Elemental website
Charlie Brouwer and Glenda (his wife since 1966) live in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Floyd County, Virginia. Nine acres of open fields and woods, with 20 outdoor sculptures placed along a 1/2 mile walking trail, surround the house and studio. Charlie calls their place "Out There" because of its remote location at the end of a gravel road, but also because he believes that art can point us towards thoughts, feelings, and meanings beyond our immediate experience.
He received a BA in English from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, studied art at Portland (OR) State University, and received an MA in Painting, and an MFA in Sculpture from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. He taught high school art for 2 years in Australia and 11 years in Michigan, and he was a professor of art at Radford University for 21 years. Since 1975, his work has been shown regionally, nationally, and internationally in over 250 exhibitions. Since 2008 he has worked full-time making indoor and outdoor sculptures, drawings, installations and public art projects, and he has exhibited collaboratively with his daughter, Jennifer Hand.
In recent years he has been broadening the reach of contemporary art into communities through “social sculpture”. These large-scale projects involve him borrowing 100’s of ladders from all across a community. He create temporary installations with them that become metaphors for the aspirations of the whole community being dependent on individual hopes and dreams supporting each other – rising up together.
Please visit his website for more information: charliebrouwer.com
Materials: Black locust wood, deck screws, preservative stain
This sculpture was started with just the flower and I exhibited it in the Hahn Garden in 2018. After taking it back to my studio, I decided it needed more of a story so I added the gardener leaning against it. Although he planted it – he has no idea how and why it flourished and grew so well. He’s resting for the moment, but plans to use his shovel to start something else soon.
I think he’s a lot like all of us – mystified by life, appreciative of its beauty, and for something to do.
The Gardener was in a public art exhibition in Kingsport, TN last year and he was scheduled to be in Cornelius, NC this year, but they canceled their exhibition due to the coronavirus – so here he is social distancing and helping out at the Hahn Horticulture Garden.
This display is supported by the Blacksburg Regional Art Association.
Please note that due to the University's response to COVID-19, the Pavilion is closed to the public. Therefore this exhibit is not currently available for viewing.
From a young age, art had always been a passion for Jordan. In elementary school she won an award for a contest themed "My Favorite Place", where she stated the art room was ultimately her favorite place. Jordan's passion for art followed her throughout school, taking AP art in high school as well as participating in the Fine Arts program at New River Community College. Currently she shares her talents by teaching art classes at local festivals and events, including the H'art festival held in Downtown Christiansburg.
Christiansburg, Virginia is the place Jordan has always called home, though it was a trip to Abington, Virginia that changed her perspective on art forever. While visiting Abington's local art shops and museums, she met artists using new and unorthodox mediums that were truly inspiring. With a newly-found inspiration, Jordan soon after created her first mixed media piece that became the basis of her current artwork. "As I was walking down a backroad from my Dad's house in Abington, I ran across a path of beautiful wild flowers. I thought to myself "I wish I could capture this picture and put it to canvas". I found myself walking home with an arm full of flowers and a goal". From this, a piece named "Life vs. Death" was born, and received an Honorable Mention award from the Blacksburg Art Association in 2014.
College was where Jordan found her preferred medium of mixing dried flower art combined with acrylic paint, and this has been the medium of her most recent creations. "I wouldn't consider myself to be a detailed artist, so I use flowers to fill in the detail for me."
My goal is to create art that is unique and fun to look at. I want people to see my art and wonder how it was created and ponder on its deeper meaning. By mixing my interests along with items that inspire me, I aspire to bring more beauty into the world one piece at a time. Inspiration can be found almost anywhere, even in your own backyard.
