Lecture Series
Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland
Thursday, Feb 11, 2010 - 10:30 amThe Alnwick Garden in Northumberland is one of the most exciting contemporary gardens to be developed in the las
t century, a magical landscape created from inspirational ideas. The Alnwick Garden project began work in 2000, and has been transformed into an exciting scene, dancing with water and ringing with the sounds of life. The Garden is one of the most visited horticulture attractions in Europe.
The Duchess of Northumberland is the visionary behind The Alnwick Garden and plays a very active role in the day to day activities at The Garden. The Duchess is a keen gardener, and is particularly interested int he idea of gardens being used as public spaces. Her interest provided the inspiration behind the vision for The Alnwick Garden which includes the largest Treehouse in the world and The Poison Garden for its kill or cure plants.
Since the vision for The Alnwick Garden first took shape, Ian August has been part of the decision making process. Ian represents the Duchess in Garden matters and maintains an involvement within the design and development program, in addition to supporting the Duchess in Garden presentations.
Read more about this spectacular garden written up in The New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/garden/17northumberland.html.
Don't forget to take a look at the magnificent slideshow http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/17/garden/0717-NORTHUMBERLAND_index.html.
Michael S. Smith
Decorator of America's Home - the White HouseThursday, Feb 11, 2010 - 1:00 pm
In January 2009, Los Angeles based designer Michael S. Smith was chosen by the President and First Lady to redecorate the White House living quarters for their family.
Michael Smith is considered one of the design industry's most respected talents with an international profile of residential and commercial clients including Cindy Crawford, Steven Spielberg and Dustin Hoffman. Over the course of his career, Smith has consistently developed a style that has been characterized as a delicate blend of "European tradition and American modernism." Most recently, his work was celebrated in two best-selling books from Rizzoli Publishing: Elements of Style (2007) and Houses (2008).
He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Architectural Digest's "The AD 100" in 2002 and 2004 and Los Angeles Pacifid Cesign Center's West Week "Stars of Design" in 2004. He was also named 2003 Designer of the Year by Elle Decor.
In addition his projects have been featured in such noted publicaitons as Elle Decor Magazine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Town and Country, Domino, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, and W. In January, The Washington Post published an article announcing Michael Smith as the new White House decorator. Read the article at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011401103.html?sid=ST2009020402409. View the gallery at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/02/04/GA2009020402375.html?sid=ST2009020402409.
Visit the decorator's website at www.michaelsmithinc.com.
Ryan Gainey
Award winning Garden Designer and AuthorFriday, Feb 12, 2010 - 10:30 am
Ryan Gainey is internationally-known, madly passionate, stimulating, thought-provoking, exuberant, creative, romantic, embracing and whimsical...mere words are inadequate to describe the force of nature that is Ryan Gainey. He is gardener, poet, philosopher, mentor, visionary, designer, and showman all in one.
Mr. Gainey has designed gardens around the world. Each garden is an individual vision based on classical design, and filled with the love of romance, informed with a connoisseur's vision, in tune with seasonal changes, and inspired by the myths, legends, and fantasies of gardens from the past. His long term personal friend, Rosemary Verey, was a big influence on his work by teaching him to appreciate garden history.
He works on both public and private gardens. He headed up the design team for the Visitor's Center and its garden at the South Carolina State Botanical Garden at Clemson University. He is currently working on private gardens from East Hampton, New York, to Palm Beach, Florida.
He is legendary in his work with the major events which raise funds for worthy Atlanta charities. Mr. Gainey's love of gardening inspires the horticultural and floricultural themes for these events, which never fail to delight and surprise.
You may visit Mr. Gainey's web site at http://www.ryangainey.com/projects/.