For years, Ann Alexander attended the annual sculpture exhibit at the N.C. Botanical Garden to support her artist friends and an organization that she loved.
But last year, Alexander, a member of the garden’s board, and her husband Lex, a longtime art collector, decided to take their involvement to the next level.
“We thought the show could improve its image in the community,” she said. “We wanted to make the level and the quality of the artwork higher than it had been.”
As a result of their initiative, the 23rd annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibit, which will run through Nov. 19, is the first to include artists by invitation only. The exhibit includes pieces that range in price from $250 to $23,000.
Alexander said she hopes this new selectivity and larger opening event will increase the exhibit’s prestige in the art world and prominence in the community.
The Alexanders established an advisory committee with local art experts including sculptor Thomas Sayre and Ackland Art Museum Director Emily Kass to help select artists to include.
The couple then invited the committee to dinner, and together looked over a list of artists who had been included in the exhibit in the past and added new names. Ultimately, 30 artists accepted their invitation.
Kass said limiting the number of participating artists was a big improvement.
“A show can be too big, and you can get overwhelmed,” she said.
