Luther Burbank Center's fire-damaged sculpture garden to reopen in September

The Luther Burbank Center outdoor sculpture garden in Santa Rosa, severely damaged by last October’s wildfires, will reopen Sept. 13 with a new two-year exhibit of work by three Bay Area artists.

The fires destroyed the entire garden’s landscaping as well as many of the old-growth redwood sculptures by Bruce Johson, which were on display at the time.

The center’s east wing also was destroyed, but the main theater remained intact.

“The original outdoor Sculpture Garden was created as a gift for the Santa Rosa community to enjoy,“ said Rick Nowlin, executive director of Luther Burbank Center, said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to once again be able to provide a communal space to gather and reflect as our resilient community moves forward.”

The new exhibit, titled “Harmonies,” curated by Kate Eilertsen and Anita Wiglesworth, will feature four works each by Kati Casada, Catherine Daley and Jann Nunn and will be on display through September 2020.

“Building sculptures that can endure the challenges of outdoor art has traditionally been a field dominated by men,” said Eilertsen. “With Harmonies, we are presenting three women, all Bay Area based artists, who are not only exceptional artists, but also will provide the LBC community with a source of inspiration and meditation.”

The center is located at 50 Mark West Springs Road. Information: lutherburbankcenter.org.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 707-521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.