New 'MOAI' Exhibit Coming to Mounts Garden

MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN
(Photo Credit: Dennis P. León)

(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – October 5, 2021) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden today announced the grand opening of its amazing new exhibition MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN bringing the awe and wonder of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to West Palm Beach.
 
Thanks to the vision and gift of Margaret Blume, the garden’s Tropical Forest Garden will re-open with the permanent installation of three imposing moai statues, replicas of the iconic monolithic, human figures located on Rapa Nui, Chile.
 
Designed by artist Dennis MacDonald with great attention to authenticity and detail, each of the statues is made of solid, reinforced, poured concrete and has been stained to create a weathered appearance. The larger moai stands 20 feet tall and wears a “hat” known as pukao, two additional pukao rest on the ground.
 
“That the people of Easter Island were so motivated to conceive, create and transport such monolithic sculptures with only rudimentary tools, no written language, and without the invention of the wheel is truly inspiring,” says Blume. “This artistic tribute is meant to evoke questions, rather than answer them, and to serve as a link to the past—our history, art and culture. If a visitor feels a sense of mystery and awe while being in the presence of the moai, then we have achieved our mission.”

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​“With this exhibit, we invite our visitors to reconnect with history as they discover the inspiring story of the moai and the Rapa Nui culture,” says Mounts Curator-Director Rochelle Wolberg. “Like all our special events and exhibits, MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN  is designed to inspire a sense of awe, wonder, and reconnection among garden enthusiasts, plant lovers, and families looking to enjoy a safe, healthy and happy horticultural activity.”
 
The MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN exhibition is included with regular Garden admission.
 
Garden hours are:
+ Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm (October and May-September)
+ Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (November through April)
 
Garden admission is:
FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, college students and military with ID; $5 for ages 6-17
+ Tickets available for purchase at the gate.
 
Other upcoming events at Mounts include:
+ Plant-a-Palooza Fall Plant Sale with an estimated 60 vendors and artisans, spread throughout the Garden offering a wide range of plants, shrubs, trees, garden furniture, accessories, baskets, and fine crafts – November 6-7
+ Garden of Lights, 20 sparkling evenings during the holiday season as thousands of jewel-toned lights illuminate and amplify the lush tropical foliage, majestic trees, and signature structures along an easy-to-follow route throughout various garden areas – December 1-23
+ Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! Art with LEGO® Bricks featuring over 40 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® pieces exploring the beauty of nature through highly stylized, colorful displays that stand in striking contrast with their surroundings – January 8-May 1, 2022