cast our historic property and Villa in a new light—pun intended!”
Exhibitions that combine art and technology seem like a natural
fit for Silicon Valley, the heart of high-tech innovation. McConnell
acknowledges that Bay Area residents lead fast-paced, often stressfilled
lives and believes that people here often search for “grace and
beauty.” She explains, “It is my hope that as visitors experience
Bruce Munro at Montalvo: Stories in Light, they are moved by a
sense of peace and creative exhilaration.” She also hopes that the
exhibition will draw people who may never have been to Montalvo
before, and who will be inspired to come back.
Munro, too, is aware of the Bay Area’s unique demographic and
is looking forward to unveiling his artwork for the first time to the
region’s local audience. “This exhibition is about Montalvo. It’s a
refuge for the residents of Silicon Valley to recharge their batteries,
enjoy nature and reflect.”
Half a world away, another large-scale installation by Munro—
this one using 50,000 spheres of light to commemorate the lives
of Australian and New Zealand soldiers in World War I—is also
due to open this October. The artist’s work shines near and far,
and Munro sees few boundaries for its backdrop. “There are
many places I would love to work,” he says. “More importantly, I
want to make work that celebrates the positive side of the human
experience. If I can make a difference in people’s lives and show
how art heals our spirits, then I will have done something useful
with my life.” n
October/November 2018 73
The Gathering of the Clan;
Opposite: The Silver Sea
MARK PICKTHALL (2)