This month, internationally–renowned artist Patrick Dougherty visits Austin to create one of his breathtaking Stickwork projects—a natural sculpture made completely of local tree saplings and sticks.
The installation will take 21 days to build, using over seven truckloads of harvested materials from Stonewall, Texas, and several hundred local volunteers to help assemble the sticks. Dougherty and his volunteers will begin construction on Jan. 8 in Pease Park, at Custer’s Meadow south of 24th St.
“Art in public places is often said to be art for the community as a whole–there is no cost to the viewer, no tickets to purchase, no special attire to wear,” says Kristen Brown, CEO of the Pease Park Conservancy. “It’s open to everyone to enjoy/experience–young and old, regardless of socioeconomic status. It contributes to the atmosphere of a place and provides outdoor-lovers an opportunity to experience something that they might not have otherwise. At times, large-scale outdoor art installations in public places can be controversial–depending on personal taste and inclination. But, is that perhaps not the very nature of art–to create a variety of viewpoints and opinions, while provoking thought and emotion?”
Over the past 30 years, Dougherty has created more than 275 Stickwork pieces in parks, museums and other spaces worldwide, including projects in Belgium, France, Scotland, Japan and the US.
