The Botanical Art Society of New Zealand Inc. (BASNZinc) and The Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens are delighted to present the second ‘Botanical Art Worldwide’ exhibition -
Forty-seven artworks by 30 New Zealand botanical artists are currently showing at the Huakaiwaka visitor centre gallery at the Auckland Botanic Gardens now until Sunday 29 June, after which they will travel to Wellington and Ashburton.
The theme for this exhibition is ‘Crop Diversity’. The American Society of Botanical Artist’s steering committee for the Botanical Art Worldwide decided on the theme and say -
‘The second Botanical Art Worldwide Project will focus on and celebrate biodiversity in the crops that have been closely associated with the human species over thousands of years. The theme is designed to draw attention to the vast variety of food and useful plants available, i
n contrast with the relatively few varieties currently used in mass cultivation. Plants eligible for inclusion are those cultivated for food, textiles, building, energy, and medicine.
Currently, many heritage species and varieties are only cultivated in small quantities by specialistgrowers on a limited scale. It is vital to promote this genetic diversity in a world challenged by a growing population, changing climate, and habitat losses.’