Rapa Nui Comes to Mounts Botanical Garden

The West Palm Beach garden will debut its new permanent exhibition, "Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden," on October 28

"Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden," photo by Dennis P. León
“Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden,” photo by Dennis P. León

Mounts Botanical Garden is West Palm Beach will debut its new permanent exhibition, “Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden,” on October 28. The fixture will bring the awe and wonder of Rapa Nui to West Palm Beach.

Thanks to the vision and gift of Margaret Blume, the garden’s Tropical Forest Garden will re-open with the permanent installation of three moai statues, replicas of the iconic monolithic, human figures located on Rapa Nui.

Designed by artist Dennis MacDonald, the statues are made of solid, reinforced, poured concrete and were stained to create a weathered appearance. The larger moai stands 20 feet and wears a “hat” known as pukao, with two additional pukao resting on the ground.

“That the people of Easter Island were so motivated to conceive, create and transport such monolithic sculptures with only rudimentary tools, no written language, and without the invention of the wheel is truly inspiring,” said Blume. “This artistic tribute is meant to evoke questions, rather than answer them, and to serve as a link to the past—our history, art, and culture. If a visitor feels a sense of mystery and awe while being in the presence of the moai, then we have achieved our mission.”

The exhibition is included with regular admission. Admission is free for members and children ages 5 and younger; $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, college students, and military with ID; and $5 for guests ages 6 to 17. Mounts Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the end of October, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through April.

Facebook Comments