Sound Garden

The garden as metaphor, sanctuary, teacher and healer, has inspired humans across millennia. In this exhibition, the garden serves as an object of contemplation in considering 4Ms framework for Age Friendly Health Care—What Matters, Mentation, Medication, and Mobility. The various art forms presented—visual, interactive, and sound offer a sensory-rich creative approach that sparks curiosity and encourages exploration of the 4Ms through arts-based representations of nature that help connect these concepts to personal motivations, purpose, appropriate care, and understanding.

Asclepias was the Greek god of physicians, healing, and advocate in the use of medicinal herbs. Asclepias is also the scientific name for the group of plants known as milkweeds, which include Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly milkweed or pleurisy root because historically it was used to treat respiratory illnesses. Milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides which are poisonous when consumed directly but have shown potential as anti-cancer agents in research laboratories. Milkweeds are also the essential host plant of the Monarch Butterfly, a symbol of resilience and endurance.

As you move about the room, click on the seed rack to plant some seeds and listen to your garden grow on your mobile phone.

Acknowledgments

This arts-research based exhibition was developed as part of The Kansas 4M/KU SpencerMuseum of Art, Arts Research Integration (ARI) Fellowship by artist Marguerite Perret, 2025/26 Fellow and Professor of Art at Washburn University; Bruce Scherting, Independent Exhibition Designer and former Director of Project Art at University of Iowa Health Care; and Dr. Paul Rudy, Distinguished Professor of Composition at the University of Missouri Conservatory.