Graves in the Garden

In conjunction with Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency, join ICA LA and Dr. Anthony Baniaga for a tour of medicinal plants at the UCLA Botanical Garden. In addition to his celebrated work as a percussionist and interdisciplinary artist, Milford Graves was an expert botanist who learned gardening and herbal remedies from his grandfather. After inheriting his grandfather’s home, he opened a “global garden” in the backyard, where he collected and tended to plants from all over the world. On this special tour of the UCLA Botanical Garden, learn more about the disciplines of botany and medicinal plants which were so integral to Graves’ music, art, and life practices.

“Plants are constantly picking up cosmic energy, beyond photosynthesis…they may not have the machines to detect everything, but to me it’s just like human’s man. We’re constantly breathing in air. We’re breathing in all kinds of elements that are of nature. So, what makes you think that plants are any different?“ - Milford Graves

Dr. Anthony Baniaga is a botanical enthusiast with a background in field botany, plant systematics and evolution. He works as both the Curator of the UCLA Herbarium, a collection of over 150,000 dried pressed plants collected all over the world, and as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. In these roles he aims to facilitate appreciation and learning of our biodiversity heritage with a focus on plants. While a southern California native he has lived, worked, and conducted field studies throughout North America.