Glass Orchids by Glass Artist Siobhan Healy Opens December 2 at the Harvard Museum of Natural History

December 2, 2010

Opening Friday, December 2, in the Glass Flowers Gallery will be a sculpture display by Scottish artist Siobhan Healy entitled Ghost Orchids. The inspiration for the artist's subtle and thought-provoking piece is the ghost orchid (Epipogium aphyllum), a rare British wild flower recently rediscovered after it was thought to be extinct for 23 years. Healy depicts the orchid in transient and ethereal clear glass, encouraging the viewer to reflect on the potential loss of this fragile species—an evocative emblem of the one in five of wild flowers that are threatened with extinction. The glass artist will present a talk on Friday December 2 at 4:00 pm, open to the public, and included with regular museum admission. Ghost Orchids will be on display through March 4, 2012. Free parking for the artist's talk available in the 52 Oxford Street parking garage adjacent to the museum

About the artist
Siobhan Healy works with glass and light to create her unique artworks. She has received several awards, most recently the Creative Development Award from the Scottish Arts Council-Creative Scotland. Healy specializes in architectural glass commissions for public buildings and also sculptural artworks for galleries and public spaces. Her work is in collections in the UK, India, USA and Dubai. Siobhan Healy also has been a consultant and demonstrated glass-making processes on several BBC television programs.

About the Harvard Museum of Natural History

With a mission to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it, the Harvard Museum of Natural History draws on the University’s collections and research to present a historic and interdisciplinary exploration of science and nature. More than 192,000 visitors annually make it the University’s most-visited museum.

See also: Press Release