On October 4, 2008, Franklin Park Conservatory will present Bending Nature, a one of a kind, inventive exhibition of contemporary art that will present both established and emerging artists, some locally based, others internationally known. What links these fifteen diverse artists is, through determined human intervention, they have all altered nature's path and expanded the boundaries of art. See how their creations challenge traditional definitions of horticultural practice and artistic endeavor.

Bending Nature's curator, Robert Stearns, has assembled work from an array of talented artists: Dennis Oppenheim, Andy Goldsworthy, Laura Stein, David Byrne, Robert Smithson, Roxy Paine, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Barbara Arnold, Herb Parker, Pearl Fryer, Shigeo Kawashima, Jim Mason, Skeet McAuley, Karen McCoy, and Julie Moir Messervy. These artists' works offer an eclectic mix, ranging from traditional and folk-inspired approaches to some very contemporary interpretations that invite interaction and contemplation.

Works will be presented both indoors and in the outdoor environs of the Conservatory. These works will employ both organic and inorganic materials through a variety of media, including sculpture, drawing, video, photography, and site-specific, large-scale installations; each piece in the exhibition takes nature into account, either in its conceptual elements or in its medium. A source of inspiration behind Bending Nature was the challenge of creating an exhibition that would not be appropriate for the conventional art museum with climate controls and restrictions against plants and insects. Due to size, scope, and the use of living materials, this exhibition is perfectly showcased in the context of a botanical conservatory.

As an introduction to the exhibition, Stearns will host a "Tour with the Curator" at 3 p.m. on October 3. An Artists Forum will also be held on October 3 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., with four artists from the exhibition: Kawashima, Oppenheim, Parker, and Stein. Both of these events are free with admission. More programming will follow, including a Family Fun Saturday event on October 11, during which Dorothy Gill Barnes will lead a children's workshop.