Past Exhibits
On display in Lyman Conservatory, a new exhibit:"Papermaking with Plants." Student work from the 2023 J-Term Course in papermaking is on display amongst the plants in Cool Temperate and Show House until April 15th.
We Are Not Machines // No Somos Máquinas: Farmworker Resistance in the Connecticut River Valley// Resistencia de los trabajadores agrícolas en el valle del río Connecticut
In the face of oppression, people have and always will resist and organize. Farmworkers are no exception. Through the words and portraits of farmworkers in Western Massachusetts, the No Somos Máquinas exhibit explores the broken immigration system, the exclusion of farmworkers from basic labor protections, and the conditions that have compelled them to rise up.
Horticultural Heroes celebrates 20 plant advocates from the past and present, including figures who have sometimes been overlooked in history books. Artists from around the region were paired with specific “heroes,” resulting in portraits in media ranging from pen and ink to acrylic paint to needlework.
This exhibit was developed by Tower Hill Botanic Garden.
The Botanic Garden, in collaboration with Design Thinking Intiative, is excited to announce a handmade paper exhibit, Papermaking in Context: Works of Paper. The exhibit is taking place at the Lyman Plant House starting February 15 and running through March 11th.
In response to increased disconnection from nature experienced by many, Julia Mettler-Grove '21 wanted to invite the Smith community to help build a creative connection to the landscape. Her project, called the “smith landscape connection”, looks to spur a collective connection to nature by encouraging individuals to contribute their own doodles to a community-wide collage. Learn more about Julia and her project at:
Connecting Natural and Human Worlds through Smith’s Mum Show and the Dream of the Red Chamber
Intro | Student Videos
Students in EAL 231: The Culture of the Lyric in Traditional China connect the natural world with human imagination through chrysanthemums, a signature flower for the autumn season in Chinese culture and literature. For their project, each student selected a poem from "Dream of the Red Chamber", composed by Cao Xueqin. Through the poem and the chrysanthemum of their choice, each student investigates how plant characteristics and growth habit contributes to multiple symbolic meanings in literary works, cultural significance, and philosophical traditions.
Explore the fascinating world of natural dyes. Hanging textiles of silk, wool, and linen showcase the beautiful range of colors possible when dyeing with plants, while accompanying interpretation explains the science behind the process.
From the original 13 acres purchased in 1871 to the 147 acres that make up the contiguous campus today, the Smith College campus has grown and changed to respond to the needs of the times. As Smith undertakes development of a new landscape master plan, MAKING SPACE, is a timely exhibit which encourages viewers to reflect on the past and consider the future of the campus.
EXTENDED! through January 25, 2019
Extinction is a natural process and over millions of years, innumerable species and countless trees have gone extinct. However, today, human driven processes such as overexploitation, habitat loss and climate change are accelerating the rates of extinction for many species, including trees. Currently, 10% of all tree species are threatened with extinction.
Learn what's being done to help trees, and what you can do to make a difference.
Physiology House, Lyman Conservatory
This exhibit, curated by June Ahn ’18, aims to explore the humble beginnings of what is now a ubiquitous salad green.
Although once weedy and quite bitter, the lettuce of today grows worldwide and in many different forms, including romaine, butterhead, stem, and curled.
June is a senior majoring in biology and minoring in landscape studies, with a focus in plants. She has worked at the Smith Botanic Garden since her sophomore year as an outdoor garden assistant, curatorial intern, and GIS liaison.
