Froebel Among the Ferns

When my father and I recently visited Phipps Conservatory, we were drawn there because of a new glass art exhibit being staged there. It is a Froebel glass exhibit, and it was beautiful and fun. This is the second glass art exhibit that the Conservatory has staged -- the first one being the hugely popular Chihuly glass exhibit of a couple years ago.

The Froebel exhibit has not been as popular, but it is still a great exhibit and wonderfully

compliments the plant environments so beautifully maintained at the Conservatory.The Froebel exhibit consisted of four basic types of pieces. First, Froebel has a series of pieces that consist of tall skinny stick figures that he calls "longfellows." He puts them in various settings doing various things -- like walking through a forest or balancing on balls.

Second, a number of Froebel's pieces are face masks -- many of them in gold or opaque white. Third, the artist has some very large pieces that fill entire rooms or courtyards. They often incorporate very obvious geometric shapes.

Finally, and perhaps my favorites were a number of pieces that consist of lifelike replicas of flower arrangements -- many of them orchids. These pieces were amazingly lifelike.

I think the Phipps Conservatory has hit

upon a real winning combination with these art shows placed among their beautiful plants. I hope they keep it up!