“…the Field of Light is a personal symbol for the good things in life.” – Bruce Munro

There’s something to be said about the quaintness of Nashville: its simultaneous country-like feel paired with its nearby city features (best experienced on a hot summer July night!) This time: at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Somewhere along the beginning of northernmost Percy Park (Southwest Nashville) the art museum / botanical gardens lay on a hilly landscape, perfectly fit for the outlandish and gorgeous light installation created by British artist Bruce Munro.

When you arrive in the lot, golf carts are ready to transport you to the main entrance (though it’s really not too far of a walk). Admission is 15 bucks for adults (you can order online early): you get a map AND a really cool Cheekwood bracelet (I think I wore mine for like, six days.) I recommend getting there before sunset for very interesting photo color juxtapositions, not to mention, beating the crowds that will come straggling in later.

All in all, the exhibit is pretty fascinating. A surreal feeling starts to sink in when walking through what would normally be a dark forest of green (I think at one point even the Lion King soundtrack was playing to accompany the beauty). Bruce Munro, which is actually a group of 10 lead by the crazy genius Bruce himself, did a spectacular job envisioning such a complex and gorgeous installation that is worth the visit. Using anything from 1,400 teardrop-shaped diffusers to 10,000 one-liter recyclable plastic bottles—no piece of material is wasted as you walk on through LIGHT‘s bright night.

Mustard Meadow:

photo credit: Kaitlin Duffy

Light Shower: 

photo credit: Kaitlin Duffy

Fagin’s Urchins:

Photo Credit: Kaitlin Duffy

Field of Light: 

Photo Credit: Kaitlin Duffy