Videos by Dave Tavani
For three weeks in March 2019, artist Patrick Dougherty worked with Arboretum staff and volunteers to create a whimsical, site-specific sculpture in the Butcher Sculpture Garden.
The piece, named Loop de Loop, is reminiscent of a roller coaster with its numerous spirals and switchbacks. The top of the sculpture is bound together with sticks wound like pieces of twine, connecting nearly a dozen rooms below. One gallery blends into the next through a maze of light-filled tunnels.
The sculpture was created using hundreds of willow sticks and saplings including purple willow (Salix purpurea) and Miyabe willow (Salix miyabeana) from upstate New York. The piece will remain in place for as long as it lasts in the natural environment, anticipated to be two years.
Patrick Dougherty combines his love of nature with his skills as a carpenter. Utilizing primitive techniques of building, Patrick uses tree saplings as construction materials, recognizing them as a renewable resource which everyone can relate to. Loop de Loop was created in three weeks (March 9-29, 2019) using hundreds of willow sticks and saplings including purple willow (Salix purpurea) and Miyabe willow (Salix miyabeana) from upstate New York. The piece will remain in place for as long as it lasts in the natural environment, anticipated to be two years. During his long career, Patrick has created almost 300 large-scale, temporary sculptures at gardens, universities, and museums throughout the world. To learn more, visit stickwork.net.
Located in the sculpture garden. Click here for a Visitor Map.
Videos by Dave Tavani
Learn more about the work of Patrick Dougherty at www.stickwork.net.
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