Step into the enchanting world of Dalnavert Museum on this one-of-a-kind Nuit Blanche evening. Explore a new immersive art installation, The Garden of Life, from local artist Syd Caldwell. As the sun sets, the historic house comes alive with tales of the past. Embark on a self-guided exploration of the museum and the incredible stories this Victorian mansion holds.

This event is free, no registration required, but space may be limited and is offered on a first-come basis.

The Garden of Life

The Garden of Life is an immersive floral exploration. Experience the well-loved and celebrated Dalnavert gardens on a larger-than-life scale. This floral installation–wrapping around the exterior of the historic house–takes inspiration from Hugo Simberg’s 1896 The Garden of Death. Painted just one year after Dalnavert was built, Simberg’s painting shows the time before heaven, our souls represented by the plants being cared for by death. In Caldwell’s The Garden of Life, viewers can show love and care for themselves and the life they're able to live as well as reflect on the current before death.

About the Artist

Syd Caldwell is a Winnipeg-born and based artist, curator, and archivist. They specialize in sculpture with an emphasis on the strange, uncanny, and weird parts of life. Syd experiments with mixed mediums, pushing the ability of materials beyond their familiar functions. Syd Caldwell’s work has been shown in various University of Manitoba student exhibitions and was featured in Nuit Blanche 2023. Curating multiple shows around the city, they’re in their honour’s year at the University of Manitoba School of Art.