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Join us for a beloved Memphis Tradition!

 

Symphony in the Gardens is a Memphis tradition dating back to May of 1978. Originally called the Memphis Symphony Chamber Concert on the Terrace, SITG (as we lovingly refer to it here at the Dixon) had much of it's contemporary charm from the very beginning. As you can see from the photo above taken in 1978, the custom of bringing chairs, picnic baskets, and blankets were an original component to the event. 

Not much has changed - other than a few details such as the location in the event of rain (then - Harding Academy, now - the Dixon auditorium and galleries) and the prices(understandable when considering the 30 year time span) - which tells us we must be doing something right! 

Numerous conductors have led the orchestra in even more numerous orchestrated classics on the Dixon's South Lawn!

Bringing these cultural institutions together was an idea that came to be long before current Dixon or Symphony staff were in the mix, but we will take full credit for it's continued success and can't wait to carry on this legendary event to the delight of both Dixon and Symphony audiences for years to come.

This Spring, enjoy Symphony in the Gardens, Saturday, May 12 at 6:00 pm. 

Be creative and enter our picnic contest! Pre-ordered gourmet picnic suppers are available for $15 per person by calling the Dixon, 901-761-5250, by May 8.

Ticket prices — Advance Sales: Adult $15 | Child $10 (Purchase by 5:00 PM Friday, May 11)

Dixon member: 20% discount available for advance sales only
MSO subscriber: 20% discount available for advance sales only

Day of concert: Adult $20 | Child $15

For tickets: Memphis Symphony Orchestra (901) 537-2525 | MemphisSymphony.org
Dixon Gallery and Gardens (901) 761-5250 | Dixon.org

The Memphis Flower Show is All Modern and All Memphis!

Flower arrangements will accompany paintings from Modern Dialect: American Paintings from the John and Susan Horseman Collection on April 28th( 9 am - 6 pm) and 29th (11 am - 5 pm) at the biennial Memphis Flower Show. 

Organized by the Memphis Garden Club, the Memphis Flower Show is a Garden Club of America Major Flower Show and a popular event that gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts look forward to every year. 

Cary Brown, Memphis Garden Club President, was interviewed by Leah Fitzpatrick for RSVP Magazine recently. Read about the Memphis Garden Club, 2012 Memphis Flower Show, get a sneak peek of paintings in Modern Dialect, and then make plans to attend this unique Memphis event at the Dixon for free!

    GEORGE COPELAND AULT (1891-1948) Active in New York The Stairway, 1921. Oil on canvas

RSVP: What are your responsibilities as the Memphis Garden Club president?

The most obvious responsibilities are to see the continuation of ongoing work we’re doing and organizations we’re supporting, but also to run board and membership meetings. I oversee all the positions that other people have and check in with them to make sure that the goals of the club are being continuously satisfied and that no one’s dropping the ball—it could be me, I’m not judging. I would say a lot of it is motivation and encouragement because it is a volunteer organization, and there’s a lot of work to do. By far, the largest job we have is putting on the Memphis Flower Show. The Memphis Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club of America (GCA), and there are 200 clubs in America affiliated with this larger body. We started in 1921 and joined the Garden Club of America in 1925, and we are only one of a handful of clubs who puts on a GCA Major Flower Show.

    ROY HILTON (1891-1963) Active in Pittsburgh, Back to the Barn, ca. 1947. Oil on canvas

RSVP: What are the requirements to become a GCA Major Flower Show?

We have to hold the show at least every three years, have at least 36 flower arrangements, have at least 100 horticulture entries and the judges have to be approved by GCA. Let me just say, our show is much, much bigger than that. We’ll have somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 flower arrangements and probably around 600 or 700 horticulture entries. There also has to be a conservation and/or education division, and we have both.

  FRANK WILCOX (1887-1964) Active in Cleveland, Three Girls on Rocks, 1930. Oil on canvas

RSVP: Can you give me a general overview of the Memphis Flower Show?
 

There are five parts to the show. The first is a flower arranging component. In the show schedule, there are pictures of each painting in the Dixon’s “Modern Dialect: American Paintings from the John and Susan Horseman Collection” exhibition, along with every painting’s dimensions and name, and each one of these paintings we sell to a flower arranger to interpret. We call it selling, but no price is involved. This year, there are 63 paintings, and they’ve been divided into classes. There will be a blue ribbon awarded within each one of these classes. One unusual thing we’re doing is the Exceptional Exhibition Table Class, which is about creating a table arrangement. There are five paintings in this class, and teams of two or three people do these because they’re big. They are actually setting a table with a flower arrangement with the implication of eating, but no tableware. The table is a 48-inch square, and it will be viewed from all sides. It’s really thinking way outside of the box. The other unusual thing that’s really cool is the American Dream Challenge Class, which is where five people walk in and are given the exact same material, but they don’t know what the material is until they walk in. They know they’re interpreting a certain painting, but they know nothing else. It’s open to out-of-town judges only because they don’t have to bring anything with them. It’s almost like “Iron Chef” for flower arranging because it is timed. 

Read more of Brown's interview here! Invite friends to the show through our facebook event!

The Hunger Games have nothing on us!

Nothing says Spring like a fun and family-friendly Easter Egg Hunt!

The gardens were full of smiling faces and candy filled plastic eggs on Saturday for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Happy families filled the gardens with pastel and floral frocks to capture the essence of spring at the Dixon.

Art activities were provided to entertain children before the race. After a visit from the Easter bunny and a few instructions for parents and children, the countdown began and the hunt finally began.

Age groups were divided between toddlers and "big kids". Eggs were hidden so each child could find a plethora of eggs quickly and easily. Bright and unique Easter baskets brightened up the lawn!

Cupcakes, lemonade, and healthy snacks were served after the hunt and the back porch was available for delightful fingers to see what treats awaited inside each plastic shell. Blankets were also provided to sit and enjoy the tasty refreshments and Easter egg goodies.

If you couldn't make it to the Easer Egg Hunt, we have plenty more exciting events coming up in our gardens this Spring. Save the date for Symphony in the Gardens (May 12) and Shakespeare in the Gardens(May 23 - June 3).

Made in Dixon inspires and delights!

Made in Dixon is a diverse exhibition that features brilliant creations from the Dixon’s many in-house and outreach programs. This is our fourth Made In Dixon. The first exhibition had only 20 paintings from our Art to Grow program and was installed in the Menke Lounge. 

Boy, has this exhibition grown since 2008. We have now included artworks from many of our educational programs including Mini Masters, Kaleidoscope Club, Art Zone, Summer Camp, Spring to Art Camp, Dixon Discoveries, Family Days, Reflections through Art, Exceptional Art and many of our special workshops throughout the year.

Made In Dixon is just a window into what the education department does at the Dixon every year. In 2011, our education staff provided 35,523 educational experiences to people of all ages! This number continues to grow and we are excited and inspired by all of those we reach.

It's not just proud parents and interested youngsters enjoying the over 100 artworks installed this year. Dixon visitors are overwhelmed and delighted to see our young local Memphians highlighted with their work on view in our galleries.

Made In Dixon is our way of thanking the community for their support. Come by and see the show before it closes Sunday, April 8.

The Dixon welcomes Spring this week!

We've been welcoming the warm weather for some time now. But with this week marking the official beginning of spring, we can't help but want to share even more of what is in bloom at the Dixon.

There are more then just flowers blooming, our galleries are full of interesting and beautiful artworks for all audiences. Check out this awesome review of Selections from the Kattner Collection of American Painting and Allow Made in Dixon to delight the little ones in your group. Please come by and join us for a week of fun, flowers, and fine art as we welcome Spring at the Dixon.