Sherman Gardens’ lush garden setting plays host to an array of festivals, programs and art displays.
Current Exhibits
Reflect. Take Pause. Connect.
Design Installation in Partnership with Laguna College of Art + Design
Located throughout the Gardens
We’re thrilled to share news of the recent creative collaboration between Sherman Library & Gardens and the talented students and faculty of Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD).
At the start of the 2025, LCAD students in their junior year were tasked with developing a unique art installation concept inspired by the natural beauty of the gardens. Ten students presented their designs to Sherman’s leadership team in the spring and a handful of finalists were selected to bring their concepts to life. The result is a temporary artistic design exhibit titled “Reflect. Take Pause. Connect.”
By welcoming student artists, we’re delighted to support emerging talent while also enriching our visitors’ experience. This series of installations examines the human connection to nature and was made possible by the generosity of philanthropist Marilyn Macy-Green. The designs serve as an opportunity for guests to not only engage with the gardens in a different way but also connect with themselves and one another.
This exciting partnership reflects Sherman Library & Gardens’ mission to inspire appreciation for history, horticulture, and the arts through education and hands-on engagement. By teaming up with LCAD, we’re planting the seeds for creativity, connection, and community to grow.
Harvest Beauty: The Artistic Labels of California Growers
New Exhibit in Sherman Library & Gardens’ Historic Adobe:
From the 1880s to the mid-1950s, California citrus growers used colorful paper labels on wooden boxes to identify and advertise their fruit, reflecting a rich social and commercial art history. With the advent of railroads, these labels became essential for shipping and marketing, evolving from stenciled images to eye-catching designs that promoted the California dream. Over 250 packinghouses used multiple labels to denote fruit quality, and skilled artists, often European immigrants, created these vibrant artworks. Label styles transitioned from naturalistic scenes to commercial art techniques, peaking between 1900-1930. The practice declined in the 1940s and ended by 1956 with the shift to cardboard boxes.
Past Exhibits
Re-emerging at Sherman Library & Gardens: Gene Bauer’s Golden Botanical Gardens
Gene Bauer (1926-2023) started making botanical serigraphs in 1972, when she became the first native flora chairwoman of California Garden Clubs, Inc. She focused on education about native plants of California through a series of monthly booklets. Each pamphlet was dedicated to one flower, plant, or tree that inspired her during her statewide visits to California botanical gardens.
Sherman Library is fortunate to have a complete collection of pamphlets featuring her original serigraphs, celebrating California flora which are now on display in the Historic Adobe.
Summer School is in Session – 2023: The Brandt-Dike Summer School of Painting
