HomeMy WebLinkAboutLARGE-SCALE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION COMING TO MOUNT TRASHMORE PARKWHERE WONDER GROWS
SANCTUARY
An Immersive Outdoor Art Experience
Mount Trashmore Park • October 17–December 16, 2026
Emily Labows, Cultural Affairs Director
October 6, 2026
Council’s Investment in Public Art Comes to Life
In July 2024, City Council dedicated 20% of the City’s admission tax
revenue to the arts and culture, creating new opportunities for public
art, new grant programs and cultural experiences across the city.
As one component of that investment, $300,000 annually was
designated for a temporary, interactive public art experience that is free
and open to the community.
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This fall, that vision comes to life for the first time with
Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary at Mount Trashmore Park.
How Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary Was Selected
A COMPETITIVE NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCE
COMPETITIVE SELECTION
A national call invited artists and creative teams to submit proposals. A
community advisory selection plan reviewed the proposals and selected
Sanctuary by Skunk Control.
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A TURNKEY EXPERIENCE
The exhibit is a two-month temporary rental. Skunk Control conceived and
designed the work and is responsible for the experience from concept through
removal.
Design Fabrication Shipping Installation Operations & Security Removal
Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary will make its world debut at
Mount Trashmore as Skunk Control’s largest installation to date.
Light Sentinels
Waterville, Maine
4 Impossible Things before Breakfast
Caloundra, Australia
Luminous Intervention
Melbourne, Australia
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Meet Skunk Control
A GLOBAL ART STUDIO CREATING EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES
Nick Athanasiou
FOUNDER & LEAD ARTIST
Skunk Control creates immerse public art at the
intersection of art, science, nature and
technology.
Why Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary Stood Out
AN EXPERIENCE, NOT A SINGLE SCULPTURE
Thousands of individual elements work together to
create an entire world to explore.
DAY-TO -NIGHT TRANSFORMATION
Sunlight, movement, color and illumination make
the experience continuously change.
THERE’S SOMETHING TO DISCOVER
EVERYWHERE
Towering flowers draw you in, while butterflies,
birds and smaller surprises reward a closer look.
AN ACCOMPLISHED TEAM
Skunk Control has a proven track record creating
complex kinetic and technology-driven public art.
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More Than 4,000 Elements
PAST SHELTER 3 AT MOUNT TRASHMORE
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10 Kinetic guardian flowers
17+ feet tall, unfurl and close
3,000
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Illuminated flowers
3-5 feet tall; glitter and cast color changing shadows
throughout the day
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350 Illuminated plants
6 feet -8 feet; glow at night
600 Including 30 with 4 feet wingspans
Kinetic peacocks
Tail feathers move
Birdhouses with kinetic birds
Activated within the birdhouses.
Butterflies
Why Mount Trashmore Park?
A FAMILIAR PLACE. A COMPLETELY NEW EXPERIENCE.
PEOPLE ALREADY GATHER HERE
Visitors come to walk, exercise, play and spend time
together. Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary brings art directly
into that everyday experience.
SPACE TO CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY
The park gives Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary the open
space and sunlight needed for elements to come together as
one experience.
FREE, EASY AND WELCOMING
A central location, free parking and easy access make the
experience simple for all ages to enjoy.
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Community Engagement
and Education
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Skunk Control will provide free, hands-on programs and
educational opportunities during the installation,
including:
•The artist is collaborating with Virginia Beach public
schools
•Students create their own butterflies to take home
•Community workshops
•Hands-on STEAM activities
Inviting the Public to Experience the Wonder
WHERE WONDER GROWS
A comprehensive marketing and communications campaign
designed to generate excitement and invite the community to
experience Wonder.
GETTING THE WORD OUT
Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary will be promoted across social media,
City channels and local media, with community, arts and tourism
partners helping extend the reach.
TWO MONTHS OF PROMOTION
The City’s Communications team has developed a media plan to support
the opening and keep Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary visible
throughout its two-month run.
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Experience Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary Day & Night
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FREE OPENING CELEBRATION
OCTOBER 17 4 – 8 PM
Meet the artist Hands-on activities Experience the installation after dark
DAYTIME – EVERY DAY
Open during regular Mt. Trashmore
Park hours.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENINGS
UNTIL 8 PM
Special evening hours offer the opportunity to
experience the installation illuminated after dark.
Closed Halloween evening.
MOUNT TRASHMORE PARK
Shelter 3, past the stage
Free and open to the public No ticket required
October 17 - December 16
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