Slideshow photos by Alexander Nesbitt and Noah Jewell
presented
The 6th ANNUAL ILLUMINATED GARDEN
SPONSORS:
CO-SPONSORS:
The 6th Annual Illuminated Garden was held on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Presented by Ballard Exploration Company, Inc., this year's event attracted over 900 people.
It was the most dazzling display to date with several new installations including the "Azorean Magic Bamboo" which featured a grove of twenty to thirty foot bamboo stalks lit with a rainbow of lights which were sound activated. Children were delighted to run through the stand of trees clapping and yelling and see the lights change color.
Two students from the Rhode Island School Design, Falon Mihalic and Judit Kollo, produced exhibits for this year's garden and gorgeous sculptures created by art students at St. Michael's Country Day School lined the entry walkway. Maggie and Ellie Coen, with the help of their parents, displayed a piece entitled "Peace, Love & Hoops" made from glo sticks and hoola hoops. Kate Dana brought back a favorite from last year - the village of Sea Shanties made from cardboard boxes.
Children from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center got creative when make their "Birduary" arbor and the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County was represented with a display entitled "Tree of Friendship". Local artist Rose Escobar exhibited "Holding", a beautiful heart shaped sculpture.
In addition to those people and organizations displaying sculptures, Friends of Ballard Park works with a small army of people to set the event up. On Wednesday Charlie Ridolf and Chad Phillips began stringing Chinese lanterns with the help of the City of Newport's bucket truck. Frank Amaral started to install bamboo while Noah Jewell 'art directed' the creation of several exhibits. On Thursday this crew was joined by Luis & Wade from Bartlett Tree Experts who strung lights by climbing trees and Bill Boiani, Chris Dugan, Victor Browning and Steve Bishop from TJ Brown who cleared invasives from the quarry wall then hung lights in "Maiden Hayden's Colorful Corner". Volunteers worked side by side with landscapers for hours to create stunning displays.
The event wouldn't be possible without our power moguls. Thanks too Frank Dwyer at Stagecraft Sound & Lighting and Eamon Kelly, Tom Finn and Mike Martin from CAT Entertainment for running all of the power cables and supplying power for the thousands of lights many of which were donated by members of the community.
We truly appreciate the team effort that makes this event such a success and especially thank the sponsors who help to cover the myriad of costs associated with this large undertaking: Ballard Exploration Company, National Grid, Stagecraft Sound & Lighting, CAT Entertainment Services , Kilwin's, Bartlett Tree Experts and Pour Judgement Bar & Grill and of course, all those attendees who made a donation.
We invite you to get into the act next year! Come up with an installation idea that you think would enhance the event. Remember, exhibits need to with stand the elements -- snow, cold, wind, rain. Send your ideas to us at info@ballardpark.org.
Special thanks to:
STAGECRAFT SOUND & LIGHTING: Frank Dwyer
CITY OF NEWPORT PUBLIC SERVICES: Scott Wheeler, Bob Oakley, Charlie Ridolf, Chad Phillips and Kristin Littlefield
BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS: Christopher Fletcher, Luis & Wade
VOLUNTEERS: Barbara Baum, Donna Fitch, Dannys Mojice, Melvi Mojice, Danielle Snodgrass, Heather Strout
TJ BROWN LANDSCAPE: Tim Brown, Bill Boiani, Chris Dugan, Victor Browning and Steve Bishop
CAT Entertainment Services: Mike Martin, Eamon Kelly & Tom Finn
Frank Amaral
Detective Kevin Sullivan
LIGHT DONORS: Mary Ambrogi, Richard Bohan, Eileen Brown, Joann Burns, Mary Ann Cross, Aggie Kirby, Ruth Lowndes, Caterine Milinaire, Tom Mochler, Naomi Neville, Kevin Parsonage, Marian Royer, Sara Voigt, Laura Wilson
