arts & entertainment

Pilates in the Garden

Instructor: Alaina Martin

Dates: Wednesdays, October 28, November 4, November 11 & November 18
Time: 1-hour class

9:00 am- 10 am

Cost: Members: $40 | Nonmembers: $60

Series Price: Members: $120 | Nonmembers: $170

Refresh your mind and body with Pilates surrounded by the natural beauty of McKee Botanical Garden. This outdoor class is designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and core stability while enjoying the peaceful garden setting. All fitness levels are welcome.

What to Bring

• Yoga or Pilates mat
• Towel
• Light hand weights (optional)
• Water bottle

Class Information

• Four 1-hour outdoor sessions.
• Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement.
• Participants should be able to exercise comfortably on the ground.
• In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified of any schedule changes.

Cyanotype Art Workshop

Instructor: Amy Saville

Dates: Fridays, September 12, 26 & October 10
Time: 10:00 am -12:30 pm

Cost: Members: $60 | Nonmembers: $80  (tickets purchased day of)

Member series – $150   Non-member series – $200

Purchase Tickets Here: https://mckee.ticketapp.org/portal/product/43/packages

Cyanotype Workshop Series at McKee Botanical Garden 

Discover the beauty of one of the world’s oldest photographic printing processes in this three-part cyanotype workshop series led by photographer and visual artist Amy Saville. Using a light-sensitive solution, natural botanicals, and the power of sunlight, you’ll create stunning blue-and-white prints inspired by the gardens around you.

Each class begins with an introduction to the cyanotype process before students are invited to explore the beautiful grounds of McKee Botanical Garden to gather leaves, flowers, and other natural materials for their designs. Students are also welcome to bring their own specimens to print with. Translucent materials such as snake skin, butterfly wings (ethically sourced), lace, feathers, and delicate seed pods can reveal beautiful detail, while opaque objects will print only as silhouettes – so keep the shape of the leaves and botanicals you choose in mind. Throughout the series, participants will create artwork on premium watercolor paper, a cotton tote bag, and wearable natural-fiber clothing.

No prior experience is necessary – just a willingness to experiment, slow down, and embrace the unexpected. Making a cyanotype print requires a bit of patience and a lot of magic, and no two are ever alike. Amy encourages students to release expectations of perfection, embrace experimentation, and fully tap into the creative flow state. The results are often just as surprising as they are rewarding.

View more of Amy Saville’s cyanotype artwork and past workshops on Instagram: @cyanature

Class 1: Botanical Wall Art on Watercolor Paper, September 12
Create your own botanical masterpiece on premium 11″ × 14″ watercolor paper. Whether you’re arranging leaves into an intricate mandala or documenting a favorite plant from the gardens, you’ll transform nature’s silhouettes into a timeless piece of wall art. Students will leave with one finished cyanotype print ready to frame. (Frame not included.)

Class 2: Cyanotype Cotton Tote Bag, September 26
Turn an everyday tote into a functional work of art. Students will learn how to prepare, paint, design, and print a cyanotype on a 100% cotton tote bag. Explore bold compositions using circles, rectangles, organic forms, or abstract arrangements while creating a unique bag that’s both beautiful and practical.

Class 3: Wearable Cyanotype, October 10
Transform your clothing into a one-of-a-kind wearable work of art using the cyanotype process. Students are encouraged to bring 2–3 light-colored clothing items if they’re unsure which piece will work best. Amy will provide guidance on fabric selection and help determine which garment is best suited for printing.

Suitable items include T-shirts, button-downs, light denim, and other garments made from natural fibers such as 100% cotton or linen. Synthetic fibers (including polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic, or spandex blends) are not suitable for this process and will not produce successful prints.

Leave class with a truly unique piece of clothing inspired by the botanical beauty of McKee Botanical Garden.

Tai Chi & Qi Gong at the Garden

Instructor: Michelle Cooper, MPT, BScEd

Dates: Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20 & 27
Time: 9:30–10:30 AM

Location: Education Building

Cost- Members for series – $80 

Nonmembers for series – $130

Cost: Members: $25 | Nonmembers: $45  (per class day of)
Ages: 16+

Purchase Tickets Here: https://mckee.ticketapp.org/portal/product/42/packages

Experience the calming practice of Tai Chi and Qi Gong surrounded by the peaceful setting of McKee Botanical Garden. Led by certified instructor Michelle Cooper, these classes focus on slow, mindful movement designed to support overall well-being.

Each session emphasizes:

• Reducing stress and physical tension
• Improving flexibility, strength, and balance
• Enhancing body awareness and mental focus
• Supporting relaxation and nervous system regulation

Classes are held in the climate-controlled Education Building and are performed entirely in standing positions—no floor work is required, and mats are not needed. This program is appropriate for all levels, and no prior experience is necessary.

Course Format

This is a progressive four-week series. Each one-hour class builds on the previous session, combining foundational Tai Chi movements with a variety of Qi Gong exercises.

About the Instructor

Michelle Cooper, MPT, BScEd, is a certified Tai Chi and Qi Gong instructor with over 28 years of experience as a licensed Physical Therapist. She teaches all levels, from beginner to advanced, and blends her clinical expertise with her teaching background to create classes that are accessible, engaging, and adaptable. Modifications and progressions are offered to accommodate all participants.