This blog was written by Austyn Lindsey Harben.
The River of Stone tradition continues. Constructed in the mid 1990’s, the pathway in front of the Visitor’s Center has become one of the most unique elements at Bok Tower Gardens. With over 100,000 hand-selected pebbles, Kevin’s vision for a spectacular mosaic pathway welcomes visitors at the entrance to the new Children’s Garden, which opens in the late summer of 2016.
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Atlanta native, Kevin Carman is a self-taught, multi-medium artist who has been creating and exhibiting nationally since 1994, and his compelling works have received many honors. Carman collects the majority of materials he uses to produce on-site installations, mosaics and various private commissions.
Paul O’Neill of Chiggerbritches Films has created several short documentary films about Bok Tower Gardens, most notably a feature on Margaret Pan a former Singing Tower Carillon Fellow. See the full Pebble Mosaic Artist short documentary below.
His inspiration for the new pebble pathway design comes from his passion for the ocean. A resident of both states, Carman owns homes in Ventura, California and Sarasota, Florida. “Pebbles are static, hard structures, but as I select each shape in the mosaic, the art becomes a fluid representation of flowing water,” Carman said. “My inspiration comes from the ripple effect that occurs as drops of water expand across a surface. The pebbles embody this fluidity and the design will grow as the path expands.”
Carman’s work will include 360 sq. ft. of pathway and incorporates artwork of a tortoise and another native Florida animal still to be determined in the swirling and rippling design. The animal art will be created from pebbles of jade, jasper, rhyolite and serpentine.
Featuring nearly three acres of garden experiences, the Children’s Garden is the final element in what will be the largest expansion in Bok Tower Gardens’ history made possible by the Preserve the Legacy, Steward the Future Campaign and the generosity of members and donors. The expansion includes the Children’s Garden, the Edible Garden, Outdoor Kitchen, Sand Hill Prairie, Boardwalk, and Bog.