This spring, the blooms won’t be the only reason to stroll through the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Otherwild, a new exhibition from acclaimed Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, is taking root, transforming the park into a vibrant swirl of colors beginning March 7.
Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden
An "Enchanted Tree" at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
The installation is divided into two distinct parts. Flora Borealis uses Skynet, not to be confused with the artificial superintelligence from the Terminator franchise. Instead, Hearn’s technique trades menace for whimsy — using an ultra-lightweight mesh supporting thousands of ribbons that undulate like the flightpath of birds.
The 10 Enchanted Trees integrate ethereal sculptures into the garden’s existing species. Reflective materials, mimicking leaves, respond to movement, sunlight, and wind, creating kinetic sculptures from nature.
Patrick Shearn stands in front of a Skynet installation.Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden
“These trees are characters,” Shearn says in a statement. “They have life in them, responding to light, air, and the people moving among them. My goal is for visitors to feel part of the story, to step into a fantastical yet familiar space and discover all the magic hiding in the details.”
Shearn began making his installations in 2016, creating awe-inspiring works for festivals like Coachella and Burning Man, and the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In many ways, his studio’s style owes a debt to Christo and Jeanne Claude, relying on the specifics of a site.
Otherwild will be on view at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Pl.) between March 7 and June 7. Access is included with standard admission to the park, which ranges from $3 through the Museums for All pass to $18-$22 for standard adult admission.
