Lantern Festival Photography

Art by Day, Magic by Night---that was the theme of the Lantern Festival, a Chinese cultural event that was held at the Missouri Botanical Garden this summer. Wow, what a fitting description.  My husband and I were there last night, and I'm still in awe. It was so beautiful and truly magical.

This gorgeous dragon greeted us as we entered by day, and as we left at night.  Isn't he stunning?

As we walked through the garden,  it was such a beautiful transformation--first to see the lanterns in the daylight and appreciate all of the art (silk stretched over steel frames--amazing), and then to watch them become even more beautiful as the darkness fell.

I learned that Asian artists were brought here to St. Louis to create the lantern sets, using very old techniques. The process begins  as chalk drawings on concrete, and the steel frames are built from there. Then silk is placed over the frames.  I can't use the word amazing enough times to describe them.

There were so many amazing lanterns that it's hard to choose which ones to share here--I would love to show you all of them.

This one is four stories tall.

The nine dragon wall

Many beautiful things to see.

Wishing Tree

This dragon's scales are made of porcelain plates.

 I'm so glad we caught it on its final week (despite the crowd, who was doing the same thing!)

What's been the highlight of your week so far?