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By Joshua Owens
jowen08@highlands.edu
Staff Writer

The Smithsonian Institute's traveling exhibit “Feast Your Eyes: The Unexpected Beauty of Vegetable Gardens” is now on display at the Floyd campus of Georgia Highlands College.

“Feast Your Eyes” is a collection of eclectic showpieces related to the cultural, historical and artistic impact of vegetable gardens on mankind throughout history.

The exhibit relates to viewers the importance of cultivation among various civilizations via written information, photographs and other artwork. Included are representations of Aztec gardens, royal conservatories of France and England and even an American wartime poster that propagandized the bourgeois “victory garden."

“The presence of the prestigious exposition is the fulfillment of the goal of the Office of Student Life to engage students and faculty as well as serve the community with a major cultural attraction,” said John Spranza, director of student life.

The idea has been in the works since a discussion took place between Dr. Ron Shade, vice president of student services, and Spranza roughly a year ago. The two decided that students should have more access to activities that are historically and culturally informative.

Spranza expects a positive reception from students and the community. “I hope students are able to make connections with the history they're learning in their classes,” he said. “It's hard to grasp the meaning vegetable gardens have had in civilization,” Spranza continued, “but this is an opportunity to see how societies have been impacted by them.”

Spranza also points out that there is much local interest in gardening from both organized agrarian associations and Saturday morning hobbyists.

Shade agrees that “Feast Your Eyes” is of interest to gardeners, but notes that it also carries a broader appeal. “Many people haven't seen a Smithsonian traveling exhibit; this gives viewers a taste of what these exhibits are like,” Shade said.

Shade hopes that instructors will appreciate the art and history within “Feast Your Eyes” and integrate it into their coursework.

Dana Davis, director of college relations, sees “Feast Your Eyes” as a medium of humane growth. Davis said, “We are in a global society; it makes sense to understand the rest of the world: their cultures, languages, art and people. The exhibit is one step toward that kind of understanding.”

Associate Professor of Art Brian Barr is excited that students will receive exposure to a type of art that isn't typically taught in classrooms. Barr intends to discuss “Feast Your Eyes” in his art classes. He said that one subject that can be explored is whether the chief form of art in the exhibit is the photography and painting of gardens or the gardens themselves.

Barr described gardens as “living art.” He said, “They employ the same principles as more conventional forms like painting or drawing: visual and chromatic balance, variety and unity.”

“I'm going to make my students go to the exhibit,” Barr promised.

“Feast Your Eyes,” which opened Sept. 24, is being showcased in the art gallery of the Lakeview building until Nov. 19. Viewing hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-noon Friday; and 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Sunday.

The exhibit is open to both students and the general public free of charge. For special appointments outside regular business hours, contact the Office of Student Life at (706) 295-6363.

This is the first Smithsonian Institute exhibit to be hosted by the college, but certainly not the last. According to Spranza, this spring the college will host the national tour debut of the Smithsonian’s “Earth from Space” exhibit, an array of pictures taken from outer space. “Earth from Space” is scheduled to open in late January.