The Bernice Garden Unites South Main with Original Mural Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information, Contact:
KD Reep, 501-766-1260 or
kelli@flywriteinc.com

The Bernice Garden Unites South Main with Original Mural

Mural Design by Steven Otis

LITTLE ROCK, AR (April 22, 2012) – The Bernice Garden, a private urban garden available for public use in downtown Little Rock, is conveying the timbre of the South Main Street community in a mural being painted on the north wall of the original StageWorks Building at 1510 South Main in downtown Little Rock.

The mural depicts a skillet of cornbread singing to a variety of more than 25 fruit and vegetables – all locally grown but welcoming visitors throughout the universe.  The mural will be approximately 16.5 ft. x 140 ft. when complete and celebrates the community, events like the Arkansas Cornbread Festival and The Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market, and the sustainability movement within the area.

“It is simply meant to be fun, silly and add some color to the area,” said Steven Otis, designer and artist of the mural.  “But, in a way, I think it also represents the future of eating healthy, locally-grown produce as well as the artistic spirit that is blooming on South Main Street.”

Otis worked with Anita Davis, the owner of The Bernice Garden and several other properties in the 14th Street block of South Main Street, to develop the concept of the mural.  He and Shannon Wallace, another muralist, presently are painting the piece and estimate it will be finished in about a month.

“We’re having a blast,” Otis said. “Hopefully, when it is complete, it will bring some smiles and joy to the community.”

For more information about the mural or The Bernice Garden, visit http://www.TheBerniceGarden.org or contact KD Reep, 501-766-1260 or e-mail kelli@flywriteinc.com. You also can “like” The Bernice Garden on Facebook and follow on Twitter @BerniceGarden.
The Bernice Garden logo
About the Bernice Garden
The Bernice Garden is privately owned but intended for public use and is located at the southeast corner of South Main Street and Daisy Bates Avenue. The garden was created to celebrate the community and will host community events as well as the sculpture exhibit in an effort to foster community interaction and a sense of pride in the neighborhood. The 100 ft. x 150 ft. garden consists of landscaped areas with a crushed granite foundation for the artworks. Next to the sculpture garden is a concrete patio, benches and approximately 20 parking spaces. The sculpture exhibition is part of a multi-staged development plan of the garden.

InArkansas.com Features the Bernice Garden Plant Swap

Plant Swap and Cookout at Bernice Garden Saturday

InArkansas.com
By Karen Martin
Updated: April 13, 2012, 6:35am

Get inspired to bloom at the Plant Swap Cookout from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (April 14) at Bernice Garden on the east corner of Daisy Gatson Bates Drive and South Main Street in downtown Little Rock.

Bring seeds, plants, books, gardening tools and containers to exchange with others.

Bring your appetite too — Boulevard Bread Co. is selling ribs, chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, barbecue beans and banana pie.

There will also be gardening tips, demonstrations, kids’ activities and live music.

Admission is free. For more information call Liz Sanders at (501) 617-2511.

Back to Back Events at the Bernice Garden this weekend!

Come join us for the The Bernice Garden Art Market and the 2nd Annual Plant Swap this weekend!

This Friday, April 13th, from 5 pm to 8 pm, is the pilot event of The Bernice Garden Art Market. This is our first art market event as apart of the 2nd Friday Art Nights in downtown Little Rock. We will have locally produced arts and crafts vendors, farm fresh produce, and music!

If you would like to be apart of this event, and help make it grow see here to become a vendor: Participate in the Bernice Garden Art Market on 2nd Friday Art Nights.

The Bernice Garden Art Market Flyer

And for Saturday we have the 2nd Annual Plant Swap cookout form 10 am to 2 pm.

the 2nd Annual Plant Swap flyer

We hope to see you there!

The Bernice Garden Plant Swap on Todays THV Channel 11

Inspiration blooms at Bernice Garden Plant Swap

7:10 AM, Apr 11, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) — Spring is in the air so it’s time for established gardeners and those just getting started to get some inspiration at the Bernice Garden Plant Swap and Cookout.

Everyone is invited to come out Saturday, April 14 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to The Bernice Garden, which is located at 1401 South Main in downtown Little Rock.

Liz Sanders with Bernice Garden says the concept is simple: bring plants, seeds, pots, books, and gardening tools to swap with your neighbors.

“So, if someone has a kind of squash plant that you’ve never tried before, you can just take theirs and then you give them a tomato plant that you have too many of,” says Sanders.

The event is free so even if you don’t have anything to swap, Sanders says you are welcome to come out and browse.

The Food Truck will be set up with great breakfast options and Boulevard Bread is cooking up ribs, chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, BBQ beans & banana pie.

There will also be gardening tips and demos from your favorite local farmers, kids activities, live music, and plants to take home with you.

The Bernice Garden Plant Swap on Today's THV Channel 11

Watch the Video

Other highlights include:

- Shannon Wallace, local artist and landscape architect, making butterflies out of recycled materials!

-Music provided by HandMade Moments (jazz band)

-Green Corner Store will be open with many of their vendors. present to answer your questions and show off their products

-Loblolly will be open and selling treats that are spring related

-Laughing Stock Farm will be swapping plants and selling Arkansas strawberries

-Goodwill of Arkansas will be accepting donations. They will also be selling upcycled plant pots from old records