Thursday, October 7, 2010

Stick House



I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens last weekend because I was intrigued to see Patrick Dougherty's sculpture 'Natural History'. It's quite remarkable. And very beautiful. And constructed on site for 3 weeks, made entirely from woven saplings.

Dougherty is based in North Carolina and has constructed over 200 twig art installations all over the world. His work alludes to cocoons, nests, hives and lairs created by animals, as well as woven baskets, haystacks and primitive huts. Some of them look like trees or brush that have been twisted and distorted into some weird shape during a tornado. He creates these pieces by literally weaving branches and twigs together. Personally, I think this particular sculpture looks like a herd of elephants huddled together, until you get up close and then it's like entering some magical fairy or goblin village. When asked to describe what he created for Brooklyn, Dougherty replied, "a place for feral children and wayward adults."






'Natural History' will be in the Gardens for 12 months so we can experience it during all four seasons. Some of his other amazing work is below.

Summer Palace, Philadelphia, PA

Close Ties, Scottish Highlands

Toad Hall, Santa Barbara, CA.

Na Hale 'o waiawi, Hawaii

Runnng in Circle, Langeland, Denmark

Around the Corner, New Harmony, IN.

Sorite de Cave, Chateaubourg, France

If you are interested in reading more about this fascinating artist, you can buy his book Stickwork at Amazon.



Images: (1- 6) mine, (7-13) stickwork, (14) amazon

3 comments:

Jane said...

I love these they look like something out of an Enid Blyton or Tolkein book. Hope you are well xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

That is beuatiful - seems a kindred spirit to Andy goldsworthy. There's a woman in England who weaves with living willow shoots too - they root!

All so evocative and playful~

timothy said...

amazing artist thnks for the info, i'm definately getting the book! bright blessings to you!