It was 2012, and our Executive Director Paul Redman saw a Klip Collective installation at Bartram’s Garden in West Philadelphia. After seeing the installation, Paul reached out to Klip’s Creative Director Ricardo Rivera.
Coincidentally, Ricardo “always had this dream of doing an installation in the woods.” With this inspiration came the collaborative exhibition Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience.
About a month after the opening of Nightscape in July 2015, the rave reviews began pouring in. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Nightscape a “daring mash-up of art and nature,” Global Delaware called Nightscape “a must see this summer,” while the Wilmington News Journal said “Wow.” Main Line Parent deemed it “not to be missed” and Geekadelphia called Nightscape, “an impressive blend of art, technology, music and nature,” and nominated the exhibit for the 2015 Philadelphia Geek Awards IRL Project of the Year. Even Technically Philly chimed in saying, “Longwood wades into the tech world with an amazing light installation. Just go.”
We knew we had something special. Fast forward to 2016, and we are getting ready for the second installment of Nightscape to open August 3.
When we invited Ricardo to return, we asked him to revise and “remix” Nightscape. Ricardo and his team decided to not only add new installations, but heighten every aspect of the whole experience, including new music. According to Ricardo, 2016 promises to be an even better experience. “In short we’ve created a more cohesive and affecting experience. We hope people will find it as exciting as we do,” he explains.
Your favorite installations are back: topiaries that come to life, an enchanted lake and woodland, the colorful geometry of the Palm House and Silver Garden. New installations in the Exhibition Hall, the Mediterranean Garden, and the Waterlily Display will become instant favorites. Join us for a nighttime adventure across a magical landscape transformed by light, movement, color, and sound.
But, don’t take our word for it. Hear from guests about what they thought about Nightscape:
Nightscape is on view August 3 through October 29, Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 6:00-11:00 pm. Optimal viewing for Nightscape begins at 9:00 pm in August, 8:00 pm in September, and 7:00 pm in October. Special tickets, which include all-day admission, are required and should be purchased in advance. Admission is $27 for adults (ages 19+); $17 for students (ages 5–18); and free for ages 4 and under. Members do not require a ticket, but do require a free reservation. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.longwoodgardens.org/nightscape.
