NEW BEDFORD — The time-worn, glassy skeletons of Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens’ historic greenhouses will be revived this fall, but with boundary-pushing contemporary art.
Starting Friday, Sept. 19, through Oct. 12, “Salad Days” will bring experimental installations by 21 artists from across the U.S. and abroad, transforming these defunct spaces into a contemplative nursery for a hopeful future to 787 Shawmut Ave.
Presented by Site Specific Happenings and sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council, New Bedford Cultural Council, The Trustees of Reservations and BLICK Art Materials, “Salad Days” promises an experience as unconventional as its setting.
Salad Day features experimental art pieces at Haskell Gardens Sept. 19 – Oct. 12.
“I just wanted to do something inside of defunct spaces I’ve always really loved, like ruined architecture and historical places,” said Mia Pinheiro, the event’s curator and creative producer. “I’m an artist myself, so I thought to bring the two together. It just seemed like a really good spot for something interesting, and the people at Haskell Gardens were super welcoming collaborators.”
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The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, Sept. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event features an atmospheric harvest of immersive activations, including CLOROPHILIA, an equinox performance with elixirs conjured by Providence-based artist Willa Van Nostrand and live harp and vocals by New Bedford’s Myles Goulart.
Visitors can also participate in Garden Frottage, a collaborative drawing process shaped by the land and guided by guests’ own creativity.
What to expect in some of the spaces
According to Pinheiro, unlike the conventional “white cube” of most galleries, these old glasshouses are off-limits for entry; instead, art will be positioned along the perimeter windows, transforming the viewing into a winding, curiosity-driven wander along uneven, cobblestone paths.
Salad Day features experimental art pieces at Haskell Gardens Sept. 19 – Oct. 12.
“You’ll be weaving in and out of the greenhouses. Pieces are sort of hidden… it’s about being curious, getting a little out of your shell, working a bit to find things,” she said. “Not a scavenger hunt, but it should get people thinking, seeing and exploring.”
Adding to the atmosphere, the greenhouses and surrounding gardens will be moodily lit as the evening darkens, blending natural twilight with creative illumination.
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Pinheiro’s background as an artist includes experimental performance such as avant-garde dance pieces and radical art events in Mexico City to gallery curation in New Orleans.
“I kept developing my interest in curating and putting shows together,” she said. “It’s like a really strange party meets art exhibit, meets whatever site I wanted to activate.”
Bringing this approach home to New Bedford, Pinheiro said she draws on the legacy of Allen C. Haskell, the eccentric landscape and topiary artist and gardens’ namesake, to offer a new take on local history and creativity.
Salad Day features experimental art pieces at Haskell Gardens Sept. 19 – Oct. 12.
How to prepare for visiting Salad Days
According to Pinheiro, the grounds of Haskell Gardens are themselves an invitation to linger, with winding walks, a labyrinth and the Wild Heart Herb House which are all open to visitors. Pinheiro said people should plan to arrive early to see the greenhouses in daylight, but the exhibition remains open daily from dawn to sunset through Oct. 12.
“You can approach the show from any angle for your own experience,” she said. “The paths are cobblestone, uneven and you’ll be weaving through defunct greenhouses not lush with plants, but with weeds and ruins.”
Admission is free, and information on the artists and artworks will be available both on-site and through QR codes at each greenhouse. For those unable to attend in person, a digital platform will offer a remote experience, including select works available for purchase exclusively online.
“It’s going to be outdoors, so expect to commune with the elements and with each other,” added Pinheiro. “Come ready to explore, wander and let yourself experience something a little wild.”
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Find out more about him at sethchitwood.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Haskell Gardens: 21 artists from across the U.S. to transform space