See the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way

A message from: Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden
This fall, you can take in the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way at Desert Botanical Garden — through the eyes of machine imaging.
Here's the deal: Desert Botanical Garden will host a newly commissioned multi-sensory art exhibit called "FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse" from Oct. 11, 2025, to May 10, 2026.
- The exhibit from London-based artist-led studio ScanLAB Projects transforms time-lapse 3D scan data of the Sonoran Desert landscape into stunning video installations, blending LiDAR — a scanning technology — with traditional photo and video tech.
Why it's important: The exhibit will display changes invisible to the naked eye — things like cactus bloom lifecycles, fire damage to the desert and shifting sediment along the Salt River.
How it's done: The ScanLAB team and Desert Botanical Garden partnered to select 34 locations across the Valley, from Tonto National Forest to McDowell Mountain Preserve.
- Each day for a year, a team of eight scanning artists used LiDAR to fire millions of laser pulses and measure their return, creating precise 3D records of desert sites.
- Think of it like a long exposure in motion — instead of freezing a single moment, the process froze entire landscapes in full detail.
The result: A series of large-scale immersive works that reveal the resilience, beauty and complexity of the desert, both natural and manmade.
- Visitors will see thousands of images and five video installations as they make their way through the grounds, from the garden to the RAF Exhibit Gallery.
Key numbers: The scale of the exhibit is impressive. "FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse" is the result of:
- 54 terabytes of data.
- 4,833 LiDAR scans.
- 125,000 visual photographs.
- 688 billion data points.
The Garden will host a series of events and experiences through the fall inspired by the exhibit.
- Opening Weekend — Oct. 11-12
Meet the artists, join mural and journaling stations, connect with photographers, explore wildlife encounters and enjoy activities for kids. - Rooted: Voices of our Community — Oct. 23, Nov. 20
Sit in on an intimate storytelling series with Bar Flies. - Adult Education classes — Ongoing
There's surely something to pique your interest, from journaling to photography to a panel discussion on changes in the desert. - Pulse Parties — Nov. 7
Celebrate the exhibit with desert-inspired music, movement and creativity. - Desert Studio: Emerging Artists — Nov. 14
Uncover emerging artists, never-before-heard music and debut albums in this new Garden series for all ages.
The takeaway: With months of programming built around this groundbreaking commission, the Garden is elevating its role as a cultural anchor and environmental storytelling hub, giving Valley residents a chance to see their desert in sharper focus.

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