Prompt:

To design a summertime music venue concept for Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.

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Narrative:

A lonely troubadour stumbles upon a grove and is so struck by its immense beauty that he is suddenly inspired to sing. He is filled with such emotion while he plays that the earth begins to respond to his music and quakes at his feet. The vibrations from his fingers passionately strumming the guitar move the earth to reveal its roots, like the troubadour reveals his soul through song.

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Symbolism:
The Willow tree and Alder trees are featured in the grove because they both signify values that must be held close in a musician’s heart and are oftentimes the very soul of a song. Willows stand for imagination, intuition, and vision, and Alders stand for endurance, strength and passion.

Program:
The musicians play on a stage that is an uprooted tree with rocks and soil tumbling down. The tree roots provide surfaces for guests to set their picnic items on. There are various rocks and logs that also serve as seating for concert goers. The Wine Willow is a covered area underneath a willow tree where guests are able to get themselves a refreshing glass of wine from one of the wines on tap at the base of the tree. The grove will be an easily accessible area for both the concert season and the off season.