The Hortense Miller Garden Aviary Gallery presents its Summer Exhibition – “The Quiet Appetite” open now through September 2026.
The Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden are very pleased to present the work of local artist Mary Chabre in the Aviary Gallery. Her current show is titled “The Quiet Appetite”, inspired by carnivorous plants. The colorful paintings explore the strange intersection of beauty and danger found in nature. The plants often take on personalities of their own, sometimes alluring and elegant, other times ominous or unpredictable. We invite visitors to look closely and experience the tension revealed through color, gesture, and composition. These forms can evoke delight and curiosity yet also stir unease or confusion. Mary is fascinated by this duality – how something visually captivating can also feel unsettling. She encourages us to engage with the work to explore the emotional space where attraction and apprehension coexist, and the unexpected character and complexity found within the natural world.
To book a Hortense Miller Garden house and garden tour and see the exhibit, go to www.LagunaBeachCity.net or call 949-464-6645. Tours are offered most Thursdays and Saturdays at 9:45am and take about 90 minutes.
This hidden Laguna Gem features a 2.5-acre garden with over a dozen hillside trails and a pristine Mid-Century Modern home built by Knowlton Fernald in 1958 on the slope of Boat Canyon. Tucked under towering Canary Island Pines, planted from one-gallon saplings in 1959, there are over 500 plant species of which about 150 are California natives. The variety of plantings gives the garden color and texture during every season. The walls of glass offer breathtaking ocean views. The original furnishings give the home a rare authenticity, befitting a true Laguna artist.
Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted.
For more information: www.hortensemillergarden.org or www.marychabre.com
