From Sand Dunes to Forest is a unique exhibit that celebrates and honors the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park, specifically through art related to the trees that transformed the wild stretch of blowing sand that was the “Outside Lands” into the parkland we know today. The park means many things to many people, but this exhibit focuses on the trees that transformed the sand dunes — without them there would be no park. 

 

Originally, three tree species were planted and survived as canopy trees in the park: Monterey cypress, Monterey pine, and blue gum eucalyptus. Those remain the most numerous trees in the park. Other trees in the original plantings included giant sequoia and coast redwood. Additional signature trees of Golden Gate Park and the San Francisco Botanical Garden are represented in this exhibit.

 

In an open-submissions process, the work of over 30 artists has been selected to portray the canopy trees. Participating artists include several well-known Bay Area artists as well as many artists who are new to exhibiting at the Library. The art is in various media, including watercolor, oil, acrylic, photography, digital scans, colored pencil, pastel, and more. These beautiful artworks represent trees in landscapes, as single or multiple individual trees and including any parts of a tree: branch, cones, seeds, flowers, twigs, leaves, buds, fruits, pods, bark, with birds, etc. 

 

Also included are historical images and explanatory text that help tell the story of the horticultural transformation of Golden Gate Park.