A BIRTHDAY AND CONTINUATION OF OUR TRIP TO McKEE'S BOTANICAL GARDEN, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA IN 2014 - PART 4

 It's Gregg's 79th birthday today, and we are off out for a special birthday meal with our son. We will also be going out again for another special birthday meal this weekend, when our dear daughter-in-law can join us. I will share photos with you in the next few days. In the meantime, I have a regular post.

As I saw these in January 2014, information below is out of date. However, on my Part 3 post, I added up-to-date information (at least at the time of writing) where you would find other exhibits of Seward Johnson's works. I have also updated and checked the links to make sure they are still working. This could all change again a few years after publishing though. There is always plenty of information online.

This is my fourth post in the 'Beyond The Frame' series of sculptures by Seward Johnson's exhibit I saw back in Florida in January 2014.  It is entitled 'The Eye of the Beholder'. You can see the others I have been sharing over the last few weeks here, here and here. This work is based on the Claude Monet painting, 'Pere Lathuilles'. You can see a copy of the painting at this link. 

This particular exhibit is located inside The Bamboo Pavilion. We walked along a path of tall bamboo to get there.  A marker nearby read: "This Pavilion (2002) was the first engineered structure to receive a building permit in the United States.  It was constructed of Guadua bamboo (Guadua angustifolia), an abundant and easily renewable resource in the central Andean valleys of South America.  Columbian craftsmen followed a design by Engineer Jorg Stamm, that combines traditional tribal techniques with European methods of joining wood. 

People throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world build with bamboo, using many different traditional ways of building.  Modern builders too have begun to use this easily renewable resource for flooring and laminates.  

Bamboo is a giant grass - one of the world's most economically important families  Other grasses we use include wheat, oats, corn, sugar and rice."

I also read online that the roof has more than 9,000 Sabal Palm Fronds attached by traditional methods under the supervision of Seminole Indian Chief Leroy Osceola.  Unfortunately, the link I shared originally no longer works and I was unable to find a replacement. I will keep on trying.

The Pavilion was quiet when we got there.  Our only companions were the couple at the table and their waiter. (Their is today’s birthday boy on the right.) 

Yes, that's birthday boy 'listening in'.

The waiter’s ears were tuned in their direction also.

I will add another post next week showing you more statues.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have enjoyed the latest on this old Seward Johnson's exhibit.

Have a great day!