4 fresh new sculptures in Huntsville + how to see them

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People wait in line as a man peers through the "Kaleidoscope Telescope" by artist Eric Nubbe, an interactive optical sculpture that reframes views through light, reflection and color and is part of four new sculptures in Huntsville Botanical Garden's "Nature Unframed" exhibit running from June 5 through October 31, 2026. — People peer through “Kaleidoscope Telescope” by Eric Nubbe, part of the new “Nature Unframed” exhibit at Huntsville Botanical Garden. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Step into a living gallery of four new sculptures in Huntsville Botanical Garden for an exhibit uniquely in tune with nature and created by Alabama artists.

The evening before the exhibit opened to Garden guests on Friday, June 5, 2026, the artists shared their experiences and insights in a panel discussion, then introduced their works along the trail.

Read on to learn more about the installations and how to experience them in person at the Garden from now through October.

Quick guide

What is ‘Nature Unframed’ at Huntsville Botanical Garden?

People gather around one of four new sculptures in Huntsville Botanical Garden, titled "Spiral Power" by father and son artist duo Ari and Steve Loucks, a walk-through spiral sculpture inspired by Fibonacci patterns and growth structures found throughout nature and temporarily installed at the Huntsville Botanical Garden as a part of a Nature Unframed exhibit that runs from June 5 through October 31, 2026. — Garden visitors discuss “Spiral Power” with artist Steve Loucks, who co-created the installation with his son, Ari, for Huntsville Botanical Garden’s “Nature Unframed” exhibit. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Late last year, HBG invited local and regional artists to design installations rooted in the Garden’s mission of connecting people to plants through art that invites interaction and encourages sensory experiences.

The artists presented detailed proposals, and four were chosen to execute and install their works for “Nature Unframed.”

“Nature Unframed represents an exciting evolution in how we connect people to plants. By integrating art directly into the landscape, we’re creating opportunities for curiosity, creativity and deeper engagement with the natural world for visitors of all ages.”
_{Rebecca Turk, Huntsville Botanical Garden VP of Learning and Public Engagement}

The artists + new sculptures in Huntsville Botanical Garden

Artist Chris Boyd Taylor stands in front of his work, "Bouquet of Dogwood Flowers," a sculptural pergola inspired by the native dogwood tree and designed as a place for reflection and gathering, temporarily installed at the Huntsville Botanical Garden as a part of a Nature Unframed exhibit that runs from June 5 through October 31, 2026. — From top left, clockwise: “Bouquet of Dogwood Flowers” + artist Chris Boyd Taylor; “Kaleidoscope Telescope” + artist Eric Nubbe; “Spiral Power” + artists Ari + Steve Loucks; “Unus Mundus” + artist Jennifer Moore (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Artist Eric Nubbe with his "Kaleidoscope Telescope" an interactive optical sculpture that reframes views through light, reflection and color and is part of the temporary Nature Unframed exhibit at Huntsville Botanical Garden in Huntsville, Alabama, from June 5 through October 31, 2026. — From top left, clockwise: “Bouquet of Dogwood Flowers” + artist Chris Boyd Taylor; “Kaleidoscope Telescope” + artist Eric Nubbe; “Spiral Power” + artists Ari + Steve Loucks; “Unus Mundus” + artist Jennifer Moore (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

The new exhibit features four large-scale installations:

“Bouquet of Dogwood Flowers” by Chris Boyd Taylor of Huntsville: Relax + reflect under a sculptural pergola inspired by the native dogwood tree.
“Kaleidoscope Telescope” by Eric Nubbe, a Huntsville native now living in Northport: Peer through the eyepiece + turn the dial to reframe Garden views through light, reflection + color.

“Unus Mundus” by Jennifer Moore of Huntsville: Collaborate to play several steel Fungiphone drums inspired by the interconnectivity of fungal networks and ecosystems.

“Spiral Power” by Ari Loucks + Steve Loucks of Huntsville: Walk through a spiral sculpture inspired by naturally occurring Fibonacci patterns, colors + growth structures.

🖼️ 🤳When you go: Look for large photo frames placed throughout the Garden and share your experience using the hashtag #NatureUnframed.

Artist insight about ‘Nature Unframed’

The hand of Mariah Wiggs of WHNT News 19 playing one of the steel Fungiphone drums that are part of the sculptural installation titled, "Unus Mundus" by artist Jennifer Moore, a collaborative musical installation inspired by fungal networks and interconnected ecosystems and temporarily on display as part of the temporary Nature Unframed exhibit at Huntsville Botanical Garden in Huntsville, Alabama, from June 5 through October 31, 2026. — A Garden guest gently strikes one of the Fungiphone drums that are part of “Unus Mundus” by Jennifer Moore of Huntsville. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

The initiative reflects Huntsville Botanical Garden’s continued investment in immersive experiences and partnerships with regional creatives. The exhibit reinforces the Garden’s role as a place where art, nature and community unite, from the Alabama roots of each artist to the thematic expression found in each piece.

“The Fungiphone drums are tuned especially to the pentatonic scales with two to three notes per drum across two octaves. They are modeled after the honey mushroom, which is why they are the color they are. That is one of the most widespread mushroom species in the world and is also found here in Alabama.

In ‘Unus Mundus,’ which means ‘one world,’ I hope people will discover that each of the five drums has different notes, so to engage the whole, two-octave scale, people have to work together.”
_{Jennifer Moore, Artist + Director of Public Art for Arts Huntsville}

“Nature Unframed” is open through Oct. 31, included with Garden admission. Visit hsvbg.org for hours + tickets.

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