Exhibits

Many Fold Manifolds

Coming June 2 through August 19
McDermott Learning Center

As a special treat during the Lady Bird Johnson Centennial, the Wildflower Center offers origami artist extraordinaire Robert J. Lang. With a background in applied physics, Lang brings a unique perspective to the ancient art of paper folding. He is a pioneer in computational origami and the development of formal design algorithms for folding. Lang will provide a treat of 25 of his nature subjects on site starting in June. The larger pieces will reach up to 4 feet, with many being completed during hours of folding of a single sheet of paper.

Lang travels world-wide to demonstrate his folding skills, and has helped design a new folding airbag for cars and a folding telescope for use in outer space. During the course of his earlier career at NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other research centers, he authored or co-authored over 80 papers and has 45 patents in lasers and optoelectronics as well as authoring, co-authoring, or editing 12 books and a CD-ROM on origami.

On the Saturday his exhibit opens, he will provide a 10 a.m. gallery walk and will lecture in the Center auditorium at 11:30 a.m. A books signing in the store will follow. Lang’s exhibit is the first of several for the centennial year presented by the Mays Family Foundation.

A Bouquet for Mrs. J

March 17 through September 3
On the grounds

As the first exhibit for Lady Bird Johnson Centennial Year, the Center offers "A Bouquet for Mrs. J," giant sculptures of bluebonnets and other wildflowers. The metal sculptures reach 8 feet tall, and were created by Logan Stollenwerck, whose family was close to Mrs. Johnson's family for many years. The two families shared a love of wildflowers and art, and Stollenwerck has created this exhibit in loving tribute to Lady Bird to commemorate what would have been her 100th birthday year.

Stollenwerck has worked in marble and metal for more than 15 years, perfecting the art while studying under Italian masters. He earned an art degree at Baylor University and became interested in Baroque and Renaissance figurative sculptures. In Florence, Italy, he studied marble sculpture and mold-making under Matte Avignon. He also apprenticeed under Mastero Marco Paoli at the Laboratorio di Scultura in Piestrasanta. Stollenwerck's art has been recognized with many awards.