Highfield Hall & Gardens to introduce the summer exhibition,

Highfield Hall & Gardens to introduce the summer exhibition,
Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies Highfield Hall’s latest Fairy House installation.
On view July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020

Highfield Hall & Gardens is pleased to announce the exhibition Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies, fairy house creations made by artists, families, and young children. The house and gardens are open for exploration, so come discover different interpretations of Utopia found nestled along the paths, nooks, and crannies on the property.

The Utopian theme for the 2020 Fairy House exhibition has taken on various meanings throughout history and seems especially pertinent now. The values of peace, simplicity, and nature that fairies embody can be a sign of hope in uncertain times. A Garden of Eden, Shangri-La, and Paradise are some popular depictions of Utopia from the past, all mysterious and sought after, much like the legend of fairies who may exist yet remain elusive. In Highfield’s latest installment, Your Utopia: Lessons from the Fairies, a number of returning artists contribute their visions of Utopia, with several newcomers joining them to fill the grounds and parts of the house with their testaments to nature, fairies, and an idealized take on life.

The 19th century saw a surge of Utopian communities which sought harmony in an idealized separate society, where members lived and worked in unison with one another. Some Utopian societies were religious in nature, such as the Shakers, America’s longest-lived Utopian experiment. Others were motivated by economic, philosophical, or even artistic ideals. Communities such as Fruitlands in Harvard, Massachusetts subscribed to Transcendentalist philosophy, with emphasis on self-improvement and education. One enduring figure, William Morris, was a 19th century British artist, poet, novelist, and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris lived amongst a community of like-minded individuals in which the unification of nature, beauty, and work could counter the negative effects of widespread industrialization. Morris believed that art had the power to shape society. Right now, the idea of a perfect society feels distant, as dystopian themes dominate popular culture and media.

A Utopian fairy house offers a much-needed glimpse into a life in which nature is its core, hopeful for a positive and humanitarian future. The exhibition runs from July 1 through September 30, 2020.




Gallery Hours:
Highfield Hall will follow safety protocols by restricting the number of people in the gallery at one time.

Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm