Cheekwood Night & Light

Last Thursday we went to Cheekwood for Family Night Out.  It was a hot day (high of 96F) but the Zinghoppers were playing that night so we had to go (Conductor Jack wasn't there but DJ Kitty and two of the animal characters were).  Luckily the shows are always in the shade so it wasn't too bad.

We packed a picnic dinner and ate before the music started.  At least Brian and I ate - the boys were so excited that they wouldn't sit still and were running in circles near us.

The boys enjoyed the first half of the show but had worn themselves out so much in the heat that they couldn't move the second half.

There was lots and lots of jumping.

After the show, the boys found some energy and ran around for 30 minutes while we hung out on the picnic blankets.  Since the boys were going strong again, we decided to stay for the Light exhibit.

Here's a description of the exhibit from Cheekwood's website:

Cheekwood is thrilled to host the second-ever North American exhibition of LIGHT, a stunning outdoor art installation by acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro. Using an inventive array of materials and hundreds of miles of glowing optic fiber, Munro will transform Cheekwood’s beautiful gardens into an enchanting, dream-like landscape. This site-specific exhibition follows a wildly popular U.S. debut at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and has been uniquely designed by the artist to incorporate Cheekwood's gentle hills, expansive views and magnificent gardens.

While we waited for it to get dark, we explored some areas of the garden around the mansion that we hadn't been to before.  And caught lots and lots of fireflies.

Eventually, the lights came on!  I tried to take some pictures of the different exhibits but need to return when it's darker and when I have my tripod!

"Fagin’s Urchins" in the Reflection Pool:

"Field of Light" on the Museum of Art Lawn and surrounding area:

We had planned to visit Light a few weeks ago for the members-only preview but that was the day Carter got an ear infection and was too sick to go.  But we had bought some Alien glow sticks back then that the boys finally got to use.  The boys loved them but all the other parents probably hated us because almost every kid we passed asked their parents for one.  And there were a lot of people there.  We often had to wait a minute to get through crowds walking the opposite way on the sidewalk.  Heather told me that Cheekwood was having to shuttle people in from a grocery store parking lot a few weeks ago (I can't even think of close grocery store so I'm sure that was quite a hassle).

"Light Reservation" in Mustard Meadow:

"Candlelight" in the Japanese Garden Pavilion:

"Water-Towers" in the Robertson Ellis Color Garden:

These water bottles change colors to music playing in the garden.

The exhibit was pretty cool and I'm sure we'll return again a few times before it ends in November.