COVE

Display Explanation:  

“Whisper of the Woods” is an ethereal art installation that attracts guests to plunge themselves into a world of trees and woods. It is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines both visual and auditory perspectives of being in the middle of an enchanted forest.  

As guests enter the installation, they follow a grey cobble path covered in moss and grass, and the air smells of cherry blossoms. Both white and red Cherry blossom trees are gigantic and will overcast visitors as they walk down the cobblestone path. As guests walk down the path bunnies are hidden jumping around through the bushes, and hummingbirds are flying in the air. Performing ethereal and calming tunes gives off a calming and enchanting aura that gives off a feeling of being in an enchanted forest as if you were singing calming and enchanting tunes.  

Once visitors reach the end of the cobblestone path, there will be a cul-de-sac of three wisteria trees. The leaves of all trees interconnect with each other, and the sun goes through the leaves and casts beautiful colors and shapes of the leaves on the visitors. A pink wisteria tree on the left with the painting “The Large Bathers” is in the center of the tree. A purple wisteria in the middle with “The Bath of Psyche,” and a blue wisteria tree at the end holding “The Bathing Women.” There will be a gold placard on each wisteria tree in Old English font with the names of each painting. The way this installation is set-up it allows multiple viewers to view the installation at the same time and allows for each experience to be different.   

  On the left inside the center of the pink wisteria tree, “The Large Bathers” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir will be displayed. The reason is that the hue of the sun casting on the pink leaves gives off a sense of love, kindness, and feminity. Which is displayed in this painting. All the women are smiling and seem like they are at peace, and the pink hue goes with the skin color of the women, it makes them stand out. The painting also has elements of nature in it, such as trees and water, and it gives the painting a sense of harmony with nature. The painting is truly a beautiful piece of art that conveys joy and love.  

In the heart of the cul-de-sac, there is a purple wisteria tree that highlights “The Bath of Psyche” created by Fredric Leighton.  The reason this painting is in the middle is that it represents both happiness from the pink wisteria tree and sadness/sorrow for the blue wisteria tree to make the perfect crown-royale purple. The purple wisteria relates to symbolism of love and beauty which comes with both sadness and happiness of trying to find love. Another reason for this painting to be in the middle is the way the psyche is so captivating. Just the ethereal sense of her being Olympus and goddess-like catches the eye of the viewers. The purple wisteria is also associated with spirituality and mystery, which are two themes in the painting. Its vivid color is a symbol of hope and courage, and its petals represent the cycle of life and immortality  

The last painting on the right with the blue wisteria tree holding “Bathing Women” by Jean-Leon Gerome is the last painting you will see before you exit the art installation. This painting is a reminder to the viewer that with growth and transformation comes some pain and difficulty, but that the rewards and self-discovery make it all worth it. It is a representation of the journey of life and how we must face challenges to move forward. Hence, the reason the leaves of the tree are blue is because it represents pain, sorrow, and difficulty.  

Installation Note:  

“Whisper of the Woods” represents the self-discovery of women through different hues of wisteria trees. They are all not just intertwined by bathing but expressing their femineity and freedom through mannerism, and nakedness.  

Renoir, Pierre-Auguste, The Large Bathers is a painting about a bundle of bare women in a forest or natural setting with the trees, grass, and river that they are bathing inside. The painting signifies love, kindness, and femininity. The way that all the women are relaxed represents freedom and self-assurance. The curves and softness of the women’s bodies, and the way the hue of the pink tree make them stand out. This painting focuses on how the natural world goes hand and hand with the celebration and sexuality of a woman’s body. The painting is also a reminder of the power that women can have and the strength that lies within them. It speaks to the idea of embracing the beauty of femininity and recognizing its strength.  

The Bath of Psyche is an oil painting made by Fredric Leighton which highlights a Psyche who is the Greek of the soul standing bare and staring at herself in the pool of water. Psyche is at Olympus, preparing herself to get ready for the arrival of cupids and she can be seen as self-absorbed and narcissistic. Yet, the painting portrays Psyche in a harmonic and serendipitous tone and the journey of benightment and purification. The Bath of Psyche is more focused on the physical appearance of the woman and the celebration of the physical body of a woman. The painting focuses on Psyche's transformation from a person focused on herself to someone more aware of her surroundings and the emotions of others. She is portrayed as a serene and beautiful woman who is on a journey of self-discovery, and the painting conveys a sense of optimism and hope.  

Jean-Leon Gerome, Bathing Women displays a bare woman staring back at herself in a mirror in a Turkish bathing room based on the tiling of the floor. This shows the lady in a very private and intimate setting, with the steam from the bathing room and how it shines on the woman's skin. The soft lighting and the warm color evoke a sense of sorrow hence why it would be under the blue wisteria tree. This painting follows the main theme of growth and transformation. In the painting, Gerome highlights the women’s body types and the softness of the skin. Giving off the idea of beauty and sexuality within the women in the painting. The soft lighting and the warm color evoke a sense of sorrow hence why it would be under the blue wisteria tree. The warm color of the women's skin and the lighting of the scene evoke a sense of sadness and longing as if the two women are embracing each other out of sorrow. The wisteria tree is a representation of growth and transformation, as it symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. By placing the women beneath the tree, Gerome is emphasizing the cycle of life, as these two women are now during their transformation. 

 MLA Citations

Renoir, Pierre-Auguste.The Large Bathers 1884-1887.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre-Auguste_Renoir,_French_-_The_L... 15 Feb 2024.

 Fredric Leighton.The Bath of Psyche 1890. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-bath-of-psyche/_wH5urm7omwnz... 15 Feb 2024.

Jean-Leon Gerome, Bathing Women 1898. https://www.wikiart.org/en/jean-leon-gerome/bathing-women.Accessed 15 Feb 2024.