Huntington Verso

The blog of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Botanical

A Stinky Family Tree

Fri., Aug. 22, 2014 | Dylan Hannon
The newest flowering of the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum, or "Corpse Flower") at The Huntington has generated good questions about the origin of this plant at our institution. This wonder of the vegetable kingdom has now flowered for us five times
Botanical

Three Musicians Sharing in the Chinese Garden

Tue., Aug. 12, 2014 | Linda Chiavaroli
Few things are more relaxing than live musical performances at The Huntington during the summer. Don't forget that every Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., you can enjoy traditional music in Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance.
Art

A Study for Gassed

Thu., Aug. 7, 2014 | Susan Turner-Lowe
Since the opening of The Huntington's exhibition of spectacular World War I posters in the West Hall of the Library, we've taken note of a very different and sobering depiction of World War I currently on view in the Chandler Wing of the Scott Galleries.
Exhibitions

The Posters to End All Wars

Mon., July 28, 2014 | Linda Chiavaroli
World War I marked the beginning of modern warfare, the collapse of empires, and the passing of ordered societies in which everyone knew their place. The Great War, which started July 28, 1914, was also a seminal moment in which graphic arts converged with patriotic fervor
Art

New Rooms with Views

Fri., July 18, 2014 | Matt Stevens
This Saturday, visitors can wander for the first time through five new rooms in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art. The new section, previously used for storage in the Lois and Robert F. Erburu Gallery, adds 5,400 square feet of gallery space to display The Huntington's growing collection
Beyond The H

Making It Real

Thu., July 10, 2014 | Linda Chiavaroli
With summer in full swing, a few highlights from the past school year still linger in the minds of soon-to-be 8th graders from Eliot Middle School in Pasadena. Last fall, as 7th graders, they toured "Beautiful Science: Ideas that Changed the World" in Dibner Hall
Art

The Spirit of 1776 and 1924 and 1979…

Fri., July 4, 2014 | Matt Stevens
With the arrival of Independence Day weekend, The Huntington is counting down the days to the opening of expanded gallery space in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art. Come July 19, you can visit five new rooms that will allow for the display of nearly 100 more works.
Beyond The H

Add Dame to Her Name

Mon., June 30, 2014 | Sue Hodson
British author Hilary Mantel has been named Dame of the British Empire in Queen Elizabeth's annual birthday honors, announced earlier this month. The Huntington, as home to her literary archive, celebrates and congratulates Dame Hilary.
Art

Strangers No More

Thu., June 26, 2014 | Matt Stevens
"One man lives in the city, the other in the woods," writes Huntington Curator of Photographs Jennifer A. Watts about photographers Bruce Davidson and Paul Caponigro.
Botanical

Dyeing to Learn More

Wed., June 18, 2014 | Lisa Blackburn
With its tidy beds of colorful flowers and leafy plants, the Herb Garden might not look like a classroom. But, in fact, that's precisely what it is. It's where school children discover where the minty flavor in their toothpaste comes from and where salsa gets its kick.
Botanical

A Garden Where Children Grow

Fri., June 13, 2014 | Steve Koblik
Ten years ago, on Father's Day weekend in 2004, the Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden made its debut. As we mark this milestone anniversary, a look back at how the garden came into being seems fitting.
Beyond The H

“Several kinds of hairy mouldy spots”

Thu., June 12, 2014 | Nicole Yunger
The book had a sheepskin cover, and mold was growing on the sheepskin. Robert Hooke, a pioneering microbiologist, slid the cover under one of the world's first microscopes. Mold, he discovered, consists of "nothing else but several kinds of small and variously figur'd Mushroms."