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LAS VEGAS, March 2019 /PRNewswire/HalcyonTV-- Celebrating the exquisite beauty and tradition of Japan, Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens unveils its stunning spring display, on view through June 15, featuring for the first time an intricate replica of the Osaka Castle, one of Japan's most iconic landmarks.
The Conservatory takes guests on a cultural journey through many of the most vibrant elements associated with the Land of the Rising Sun, including delicate cherry blossoms, elegant butterflies and thousands of fresh tulips, calla lilies and chrysanthemums. The spring display, featuring 65,000 fresh flowers, honors nature's awakening and the bloom of a new season with Japanese influences around every turn. Butterflies, a sign of good luck in love in Japanese culture, are found flitting throughout the display, while a traditional tea house honors the grace, etiquette and hospitality of the age-old Japanese tea ceremony. "Incorporating a replica of the stunning Osaka Castle into our Conservatory allows us the unique opportunity to share a piece of Japanese culture with tens of thousands of visitors each day," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. "We aim to spark conversation and curiosity about this remarkable country and this storied castle." Upon entering the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning 30-foot-high Osaka Castle replica stands in the center of the West Bed. Recreated in precise detail, the Edo-era landmark features shining golden trim and is flanked by two Japanese-style stone lanterns, illuminating the path to the castle. Colorful butterflies flutter throughout the bed which includes intricate topiaries made up of 2,000 fresh-cut carnations. Just below the castle, a waterfall flows into a wide pond accented by three lively fountains, a nod to Bellagio's world-renowned water feature along the Las Vegas Strip. To ensure the display accurately conveyed the historical and cultural significance of the iconic Osaka Castle, designer Ed Libby and Bellagio's horticulture team collaborated with Japan-based producer Noriko Minai and her team at Dentsu Live Inc. to bring the vision to life with a precise combination of colors and flowers. The creative process included several months of reviewing detailed visual assets and models of the castle to create a masterpiece that was true to life and also uniquely Bellagio. Noriko Minai, Chief Producer at Dentsu Live Inc., said, "I am honored to be part of this project, which will attract thousands of visitors in Las Vegas. It is a very precious opportunity for us to introduce one of Japan's historical and cultural treasures to visitors coming from all over the world. I hope those who enjoy this spring display become more interested in visiting Osaka and Japan." As visitors enter the East Bed of the Conservatory, they are greeted by the beautiful blooms of cherry blossom trees, lining a stone pathway accented with spring gates. As they wander through the gates, the sweet scent of delicate cherry blossoms fills the air, while two massive Japanese paradise flycatcher birds "fly" overhead, in perpetual flight. In the South Bed, glowing Japanese celebration lanterns hang over a waterfall amid a collection of intricately designed pottery. Decorated with lush green, pink and blue lentils, the color palette of the vases evokes the signature hues of spring. Four-foot-tall lanterns are suspended overhead, glowing over the graceful koi swimming in the pond below. Nearby in the North Bed, two 18-foot red-crowned Japanese cranes tower over blooming lotus flowers in various stages of life. The cranes are inspired by the popular One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, one of a series of ukiyo-e prints by Japanese artist Hiroshige. In Japanese culture, the crane symbolizes longevity and strength, while the lotus flowers are honored for their ability to bloom from the mud of a murky pond – a process that symbolizes enlightenment. Designed to replicate a legendary tea house that debuted at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, a traditional tea house sits just beyond the pond, set for a time-honored tea ceremony. With more than 19 million residents, Osaka is the second largest city in Japan and the center of commerce in the western part of the nation. Dating back to the 7th century, Osaka is rapidly becoming a global tourist destination renowned for its great food, history and people. MGM Resorts has declared Osaka as the number one candidate for the development of an integrated casino resort after Japan legalized casinos in 2018. Osaka has been chosen as the host city of the World Expo 2025, with MGM Resorts as the proud sponsor of the bid. The representation of the Osaka Castle within the Bellagio Conservatory is a celebration of this wonderful Japanese city designed for millions of Las Vegas visitors to enjoy daily. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is complementary to the public. Bellagio's spring Conservatory reflects MGM Resorts International's commitment to celebrating Japanese culture with visitors from around the world. Also featured at the resort are two installations by internationally celebrated artist Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored Room: Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity and Narcissus Garden, both on display at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art through June 30. Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – Spring Display 2019 Fact Sheet Fun Facts • The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens reveal a new display five times each year: Lunar New Year, spring, summer, fall and holiday. • More than 20,000 visitors enjoy the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens each day. • Each display change-out takes six days with more than 100 team members working around the clock to entirely remove the former season and install the new props, flowers and more. • The spring display opened on March 15, 2019 and will be on view through June 15, 2019. By the Numbers / Spring Display • 65,000: Number of blooming plants featured within the spring display • 60,000: Number of silk rose petals covering the pottery in the South Bed • 2,000: Number of carnations used in each cherry blossom topiary found throughout the display • 32: Height in feet of the Osaka Castle, featured in the West Bed • 25: Height of the pink garden gates towering over the entryway in the East Bed • 14: Height in feet of the South Bed waterfall • 10: Varieties of tulips used throughout the display, including Sunset Tropical, Rococo, Ice Lolly and more ART GALLERYWhile most were out for Superbowl 50 last Saturday, there were some not drawn to the sports festivities seemingly everywhere you turned in San Francisco. Over at Artway, a unique styled, new type of gallery is nestled in the beautiful residence of the Nema building located on 10th Street, just across from Twitter – friends & guests were greeted by both the curators of the gallery event along with Fine Art Photographer - Tony Maridakis. Maridakis, who has a Masters in Fine Art focuses on this particular large scale series taken with long exposures – titled: water & dreams. Tony is fascinated by phenomena that persist phenomena that have preceded us by eons and will continue long after our departure. His works published in the Wall Street Journal – a pretty amazing journey. Two photographs hang side by side – Polarity I & II. So different but similar as these were taken just three minutes apart. As well as getting in tune with the environment when out shooting, Maridakis mentions that the scene needs to pull him out of reality – natural form, natural colors. Tony will work with the photo, play with the image, until this is what it needs to be. When I asked Tony about having any favorites – “Although having no particular one in mind, he gently stated that all were like his children. They all have qualities I like.” Water & dreams is currently on display and are all large scale - limited editions. Heavily influenced by French Philosopher – Gaston Bachelard, you can imagine the similarities along these particular elements. For more information about Tony Maridakis and water & dreams call / email: Themes + Projects at (415) 732-0300 or info@themesandprojects.com ARTWAY, curated by Themes + Projects, is located inside the NEMA residence (10th and Market Street) in the corridor between north and south towers. ARTWAY is a new place for residents and art lovers to experience art as they journey from north and south towers. |
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