Art Blooms
Art Blooms is an outdoor sculpture exhibit featuring artists from Metro Atlanta alongside Smith-Gilbert Gardens' permanent collection. Enjoy viewing art among spring blooms, including 25,000 daffodils!Artist demonstrations/workshops will be available on Saturdays. (Some will require registrations.)
Fun Facts
Fun Facts
- Bob Gilbert and Richard Smith supported the arts and collected artwork from around the U.S.- many of these can be seen today.
- The first Art Blooms in 2021 began with KSU’s Master Craftsman program.
- In 2022 GA Council for the Arts awarded a project grant to SGG for Art Blooms! More support means more artists!
- Joining our artist demonstrations, KSU’s Theatre and Performance Studies department will perform an original immersive play created just for SGG
Come explore springtime in the gardens! Enjoy seasonal blooms and discover local art.
Featured Events
Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Breakfast (Additional fee required)
SATURDAY, APRIL 1
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Experience the beauty of Smith-Gilbert Gardens this spring with our Egg Hunt on April 1. Children up to nine years old -bring your baskets! Create Easter-themed crafts and play garden games. Make it a family fun morning with the addition of a Bunny Breakfast at Ben Robertson Community Center. Treat your family to a buffet including hot and ready pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage as well as a medley of fresh fruit and delicious breakfast sweets. Everyone's favorite cottontail will be making his way from table to table to say hello to all the boys and girls. Sign up for one or both with a combo ticket. Smith-Gilbert Gardens members receive advanced ticket sales. Must be a member by February 24 to receive your discount. Be sure to bring your camera to capture all the memories.
Hunt times are 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM and noon. Breakfast times are 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Combo tickets are offered in the first two times of the hunt. Single-event tickets are available.
Artist Demonstration
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Check out one of Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s instructors demonstrating techniques in watercolor at the Gardens. Laura Surace will paint an area of the Gardens showing different watercolor techniques to capture florals and landscapes. Laura will also be offering workshops in April and May. Be sure to register!
Art Workshop (additional fee required)
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join two of Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s instructors for a family art workshop. One hour will be dedicated to watercolor painting with instructor Laura Surace and one hour to hand building with Sheila Dow. Great for families with children 6 and older. Registration is required and includes Garden admission. Fee includes one adult and one child. Additional children are $5.
Hand Building Clay (Additional fee required)
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
(10:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Sheila Dow of Marietta Cobb Museum teaches a clay hand-building class for adults. Learn how to use techniques to create a lantern. Registration is required and includes Garden admission. All materials are included with instruction. Pieces will be fired and ready for pick up at a later date.
Seedling Performance
FRIDAY, APRIL 21 & SATURDAY, APRIL 22
FRIDAY, APRIL 28 & SATURDAY, APRIL 29
A collaborative production between the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and Smith-Gilbert Gardens. The Seedling is an immersive, site-specific work KSU has devised for family audiences! Walk through the Gardens as the stories and actors lead you through scenes and stations. An experience like no other. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and get ready to explore!
The price includes Garden admission. No need to purchase additional admission. The first half hour is the pre-show activities followed by the performance. Great for families with children ages 0-8. Performances are 45min to one hour.
KSU Fabric & Textile Exhibit
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
1:00 PM
View a special limited-time exhibit created by KSU’s Fabric and Textile students for Art Blooms. Students will create garments, print and dye fabrics and present other textiles inspired by Smith-Gilbert Gardens. Meet the artists at the opening reception at 1:00 PM. Included with Garden Admission. Available for viewing through May 2.
Artist Demonstration
SATURDAY, MAY 6
10:00 - 12:00 PM
Local Artists Sheena Dickerson and Lorraine Kimsey are plein air painting in the Gardens. Watch them demonstrate how they capture the beauty of the Gardens in acrylic and oil paints.
Rose Garden Gala (additional fee required)
SATURDAY, MAY 13
The Gardens Annual Fundraiser presented by the Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation. This event invites the community to support the mission of education, history, art and horticulture. Tickets available in March. Sponsorships for this event are also available. See our Join and Give section on our website for more details on sponsorship opportunities.
Patsy Rausch and the Papermaking Bicycle
SATURDAY, MAY 20
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join Patsy at the Gardens and learn to make paper with some very unique techniques- using a bicycle to pulp fibers. Patsy will demonstrate step by step papermaking, what fibers and materials can be used and let you make your own paper to take home. A fun process the whole family can try.
Family Workshop (additional fee required)
SATURDAY, MAY 27
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Laura Surace from the Marietta Cobb Museum teaches a family friendly watercolor workshop for children 6 and up. Learn techniques in watercolor with the Gardens as inspiration. All materials provided. Registration is required and includes Gardens admission. Fee includes one adult and one child. Additional children are $5.
ADULT WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP (Additional fee required)
SATURDAY, MAY 27
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s Laura Surace teaches a watercolor workshop for adults (16 years and up welcome). Learn step by step watercolor techniques with areas of the Gardens as inspiration. Registration required and includes Garden Admission. All materials provided.
Thank you to our Sponsors
