January 11 – April 27, 2025
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
BonnetHouse.org
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, the historic and whimsical 35-acre subtropical estate located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, is excited to host the captivating Forest Forms exhibition in its beautiful gardens from January 11 to April 27, 2025. Created by world-renowned artist Huelani Mei, the four-month-long Forest Forms exhibition provides an artful exploration of nature’s lines, rhythm, and movement. During this outdoor art exhibit, visitors can walk alongside larger-than-life metal sculptures of nature’s iconic residents.
Forest Forms features 18 sculptures ranging in height from a playful five feet to a monumental twenty feet tall. These works include a majestic fox family, an intricate stack of flowers, adorable bunny rabbits, a slithery snake archway, an ethereal peacock, and much more. Made from powder-coated steel in a style similar to line drawing, artist Huelani Mei begins her creative process with a simple sketch. In her shop, Mei turns the sketch into a tiny maquette made from pencil steel, measuring just a few inches in size. This maquette helps refine the lines and angles of her vision before full-scale fabrication. An avid nature lover, Mei creates her work using a distinct “line work” style to convey the form, movement, and rhythm she observes while enjoying her many outdoor hobbies. The joy and peace nature brings her is clearly reflected in her work, which she hopes will provide viewers with an unexpected moment of reflection and wonder.
“Forest Forms provides a high-quality, immersive, and entertaining experience from a truly dedicated artist for visitors of all ages,” said Patrick Shavloske, CEO of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. “Guests will be able to capture the essence of the natural world in a unique and breathtaking way, and we are proud to offer this experience at Bonnet House.”
The traveling exhibition was first displayed at the Fernbank Museum in Atlanta earlier this year. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is the third museum to host this artful display produced by Elemental Exhibitions. Whether guests are beginners looking to explore a new hobby or experienced artists seeking inspiration to refine their skills, this exhibition offers the perfect opportunity to immerse in art, nature, and creativity—just as the historic residents, Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, did over 100 years ago.
To kick off the exhibit, Bonnet House is hosting a Forest Forms Artist Meet & Greet with Huelani Mei and a VIP Opening Reception on Sunday, January 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The VIP Reception will include light fare and cocktails catered by Hugh’s Catering. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at www.bonnethouse.org. On Saturday, January 18, Bonnet House will host a Forest Forms Food Truck Kick-Off Event open to the public! Guests can enjoy the new exhibit while sampling delicious local fare from a variety of popular food trucks.
To experience this larger-than-life outdoor exhibition, guests can purchase individual General Admission tickets to Bonnet House, which includes the iconic self-guided Bonnet House tour. Admission is $25 for adults and $8 for ages 6-17. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, and is open for tours Tuesday–Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
