Patrick Dougherty is the name of the soul who has struck an unusual bond with nature. One thing is certain. The instincts that makes a bird build a nest have managed to slip inside the heart and mind of Patrick. How else can one remain so committed when it comes to weaving growing trees in shapes of houses, cocoons, pagodas, huts, giant water pitchers and even people? His truly fascinating extraordinary sculptures leave you dumbstruck. Having a look at his works – the living art embedded with the nature’s breast – makes you aware of the fact that this man is simply a branch bender extraordinaire. He is an artist who has mastered the unparalleled craftsmanship – the art of crafting human-sized nest houses.
The artist:
Patric Doughtery, now a man in his 60s, provided an unique height to his carpentry skills when he decided to use it to serve the cause of nature in an artistic way. His fascination for primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material knows no bounds. He is humble enough to treat his work not as manifestation of art but only “stickwork,” which till date has a portfolio of over 200 amazing pieces.
His journey that began in 1980 from a backyard situated at Chapel Hill, N.C., where he shaped his early works, has now seen many interesting episodes as his works morphed into monumental site-specific installations from single pieces on conventional pedestals.
The inspiration:
He seems to be nature’s gifted child! After all , he is so amazing in his ability to develop stunning houses for the lovely birds. The houses that makes lovers of artworks run short of words when they try to appreciate the beauty environing his works. He is the one who weaves growing trees to form gigantic nest house in a non-attached effortless manner.
The material:
Dougherty relies upon the bounty offered by Mother Nature. He uses sticks to give rise to human-sized nest houses.
The artwork:
Patric Doughtery has carved a name for himself by weaving growing trees into the shapes of houses, cocoons, pagodas, huts, giant water pitchers and even people. His amazing twig art installations have been delighting us since 1982. He boasts of having a preference for working big. We find him hugely involved in taming and turning the saplings, belonging to different trees, into giving rise to structures that seem to have been built by a beaver!
Green aspects:
Needless to state that the man named Patric Doughtery has taught us how to remain in sync with mother nature. His eco-friendly gestures encourages us to think about betterment of face of earth in a conscious way. His creations also serve as homes to the birds and help in preserving their species. We can safely state that his great works of art are not merely showpiece items but they are structures that provide shelter to so many homeless creatures. It’s not art in vain.
Via: Inhabitat