Interdisciplinary dance performance inspired by Reynolda House exhibition

This is a guest post from the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art recently partnered with Janice Lancaster, Teacher-Scholar Postgraduate Fellow in the Wake Forest Department of Theatre and Dance, to develop “The Last Plant,” an interdisciplinary dance performance inspired by Reynolda’s historic gardens and the 2021 Reynolda exhibition, “Cross Pollination.”

“Cross Pollination” explored the concept of pollination in nature and ecology, cultural and artistic influence and exchange, and the interconnection between art and science, through influential paintings by Martin Johnson Heade, Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and more.

“The Last Plant” emphasizes the biodiversity and beauty of the plants in Reynolda’s greenhouse and conservatory, as well as our collective responsibility to preserve their native habitats. Dancers open their senses to patterns of plant intelligence, coloration and communication in this human-plant collaborative endeavor.

University partners hope the creative, interdisciplinary performance will foster future site-based learning opportunities and performances at Reynolda.

View “The Last Plant” on Reynolda’s YouTube channel.