Fantastical Forest
May 31, 2022 — present
Some critters in the Fantastical Forest are updating their habitats, which means the exhibition is currently closed while they finish their renovations. We will reopen again soon with more accessibility, but until then, keep an eye on our website for updates. Thank you to everyone who booked a timed ticket, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Mobile Museum of Art presents Fantastical Forest, an interactive installation that explores where nature and art meet. Lucy Gafford designed the site-specific installation, and it was funded by area organizations. The magical space was created with the help of local artists Ben Kaiser and Vanessa Quintana. Audio design is by The Company Retreat and Octopus Prime.
Fantastical Forest is an enchanted installation full of friendly creatures, colorful birds and flowers, and secret nooks where surprises wait. Visitors can see the entire by climbing a treehouse and looking at the floor below.
“We deeply appreciate the Mobile Museum of Art for entrusting us to create this large-scale installation,” Gafford says. “The many months of hard work that have gone into this project have been an incredible learning experience for everyone involved, and we foresee it making new opportunities for us as artists in the future. We hope you visit and experience the magic of the Fantastical Forest!”
Fantastical Forest is interwoven with Alabama’s State Board of Education standards: themes of ecology and the importance of the environment; math; geography; language arts; creative writing; and visual arts.
Fantastical Forest support
MMofA gratefully acknowledges the support of the following for this installation: The Mary Josephine Larkins Charitable Foundation, The J.L. Bedsole Foundation, The Ben May Charitable Trust, The Rotary Club of Mobile, The C.D., Helen and Jeff Glaze Foundation, and The Moses Foundation.
The educational video made for this project was directed by Joseph Brennan and is generously supported by Art Bridges. The artists responsible for this project are Lucy Gafford (lead concept and artwork) with assistance from Ben Kaiser and Vanessa Quintana. Audio design is by The Company Retreat and Octopus Prime, and sound is by Michael Francis. Support for this, and all museum exhibitions and programs, is provided by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Mobile.
Content created for the installation
Generous support for this video provided by Art Bridges.
