Just in time for Art Miami and Art Basel, Pinecrest Gardens is welcoming world-renowned sculptor and stickwork creator Patrick Dougherty, who crisscrosses the globe weaving, twisting and turning tree saplings into large-scale whimsical, whirling shapes.
With Pinecrest Gardens’ botanical garden to serve as his stage and inspiration, Dougherty will begin building his sculpture — branch by branch and twig by twig — with help from 100 community volunteers from Nov. 2 to 20. The project is funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and presenting sponsor TotalBank.
Over the course of 30 years, Dougherty has built more than 250 sculptures that dot four continents and that have graced some of the most prestigious museums and galleries around the world. Since constructing the “Whatchamacallit” exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in 2000, the revered artist received the nickname Stickman, which continues to “stick” to this day.
Two years ago, the Smithsonian invited back its favorite Stickman, along with eight other leading contemporary artists, to participate in the museum’s inaugural exhibit, WONDER, for the grand return of the Renwick Gallery, after a two-year multi-million dollar renovation.
“Patrick Dougherty’s vision is both playful and stunningly architectural. Every one of his woven works is inspired by its location and his creative process is seemingly improvised. Patrick ingeniously choreographs his team of volunteers to help create these fantastical structures using the tapering forms of the saplings like a brush to canvas,” said Alana Perez, Pinecrest Gardens director. “We invite the community, art enthusiasts, tourists and children of all ages to visit and be captivated by this visual spectacle, while enjoying everything else Pinecrest Gardens, South Florida’s Cultural Arts Park, has to offer.”
A North Carolina native, Dougherty combines his love of carpentry and nature to create magnificent architectural sculptures that are unique to each setting and reminiscent of animal-made shelters scaled to monumental sizes, primarily using tree saplings.
The sculptures are just as much nature’s vision of art as they are Dougherty’s. The branches twist and bend into shapes and directions their very nature demands, while Dougherty responds and intertwines them into beautiful pieces of art that kindle a sense of youth and adventure in those who experience them firsthand.
Pinecrest Gardens invites the public to explore first-hand the mastery behind Patrick Dougherty’s work during a reveal ceremony and opening arts party on Thursday, Nov. 30. As part of the opening night festivities, guests can enjoy exhibitions by the park’s first-ever, artist-in-residence, Xavier Cortada, and hARTvest Project founder, Carola Bravo.
For more information, visit www.pinecrestgardens.org.
