Stick-art - Food and Travel

(Be It Ever)

Those of us whose gardens have so much foliage that has to be trimmed and carted away, might want to take a leaf (!) out of Patrick Dougherty's book. Decades ago, as a student of art and scuplture, he was drawn to the vast scope of shape and form in nature.

Combining his carpentry skills with his love of nature, Patrick began to learn more about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material, creating magical ethereal works of art such as these.

(Close Ties)

His work quickly evolved from single pieces on conventional pedestals to monumental scale environmental works, which required saplings by the truckloads. Over the last thirty years, he has built over 250 of these works, and become internationally acclaimed. His sculpture has been seen worldwide - from Scotland to Japan to Brussels, and all over the United States.

(Aint Misbehavin')

He has received numerous awards and Princeton Architectural Press published a major book about Patrick and his work in 2009. The monograph, Stickwork, has received excellent reviews and is available online.

A feature-length documentary Bending Sticks celebrates Dougherty's twenty-five year career. The heart of the film is the creation of five Dougherty commissions in different locations and follows the artist and his collaborators during a year of 'stick work'. It reveals Dougherty’s process, personal story and inspirations.

I think that part of my work’s allure is its impermanence, the life cycle that is built into the growth and decay of saplings. My focus has always been the process of building a work and allowing those who pass to enjoy the daily changes or drama of building a sculpture as well as the final product. However, the line between trash and treasure is thin, and the sculptures, like the sticks they are made from, begin to fade after two years. Often the public imagines that a work of art should be made to last, but I believe that a sculpture, like a good flower bed, has its season. – Patrick Dougherty

WATCH this video to learn more about Dougherty's work.....

READ more.....

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