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The Softer Side of the Rock:
Botanical Illustrations from the Historic Gardens of Alcatraz
MAY 8 - JULY 31, 2007
BAND ROOM EXHIBIT HALL
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
(SAN FRANCISCO, 7 May, 2007) San Francisco Botanical Garden Society proudly announces the opening of "The Softer Side of the Rock, Botanical Illustrations from the Historic Gardens of Alcatraz," an exhibition of thirty-eight botanical watercolors created by nineteen artists in SF Botanical Garden Society’s Botanical Illustration Program. The exhibition is open to the public daily, May 8 through July 31, 2007, in the Band Room Exhibit Hall, located in the main prison building on Alcatraz Island*. 
* There is a charge for the ferry service to and from the island which is supplied by a concessionaire under contract with the National Park Service. For additional information on schedules, prices, and to purchase tickets in advance, please visit the Alcatraz Cruises website at www.alcatrazcruises.com.
This distinctive exhibit is a result of a unique partnership between SF Botanical Garden Society (SFBGS) and the National Park Service (NPS). The gifted artist and SFBGS art educator Mary L. Harden spearheaded the program. This spring, with the guidance of horticulturalist J. Charmain Giuliani (SFBGS "Plant Doctor"), a group of botanical art students was invited to Alcatraz Island to create illustrations directly inspired by garden specimens grown on Alcatraz. These art students were able to work on the island from fresh plant material, which resulted in both vibrant and scientifically correct field studies. The nature of the selected plants is revealed through each artist’s unique point of view.
"The participants in this exhibit come from all walks of life and are bound together in the miraculous process of reinterpreting the natural world," explains art instructor Mary Harden. "The juxtaposition of stone and petal, of structure and form is the inspiration for these inquiring artists. We hope that through their creative process, you too will be able to see another dimension of this very special place."
Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and U.S. fort on the West Coast, an infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public (and dreaded by inmates), and the historic 18-month occupation by Indians of All Tribes. Rich in cultural history, there is also a natural side to the Rock - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.
The hours of operation vary with the season - departures are available throughout the day beginning at 9am. The ferry runs about every thirty to forty minutes to and from Alcatraz. The island closes at 6:30pm in the summer; some additional evening programs are available.
San Francisco Botanical Garden Society, a non-profit organization, was established in 1955 to actively support San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum with fundraising, promotion, and advocacy, and to provide outstanding botanical, horticultural, and environmental education opportunities for people of all ages.
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