Sculptor finds art in nature

In sunshine and rain, a sculptural group forms in front of the audience's eyes, and visiting artist Patrick Dougherty's sculpture making has received support from the Ann Arbor and University community in several ways.

The community was able to partake in the project during its formation by stopping by, admiring, asking questions, taking snapshots, touching and even building the sculptural group.

At the northwest corner of the Diag, surrounded by walkways and tall trees, the all-together 10 "elements" or shelters, stand in a circle.

Dougherty uses only sapling wood and a knife to construct his sculptures; he chooses shapes that flow from the material such as round, curved, cocoon-like forms - the types that occur in nature.

Dougherty adds, "it is by no accident that a bird's nest is round."

STEVE GERTZ/Daily Patrick Dougherty's sculpture of ten shelters is on display in the northwest corner of the Diag. Passersby are welcome to sit, stand or play in the artwork.

Dougherty found inspiration for his work in his childhood wanderings and tree-houses.

"One can reminisce without thinking histrionically, childhood memories are evoked within a different context than learned history," Dougherty said. "All art is not necessarily applauded by art history."

Dougherty said he wants to remind people of a few ideas. He believes art is a normal activity, that no studio doors need to be closed for its creation.

He said he hopes that in conjunction with the past Winter '98 Environmental Theme Semester that his sculptures, by having viewers touch and walk through them, will evoke memories of walks in nature, and perhaps make people, "go and take other ones." He contends that in this bustling, modern world, there is no substitute for nature.

The method of creation blends three stages of Dougherty's thinking, "structure, aesthetics and then cosmetics." His said his sculptures are site specific, to fit the dimensions and shapes of the building or space within which they will be viewed.

Dougherty arrives with materials by the truckload and builds on a particular site. His sculptures' parameters narrow gradually, and that is when he said he knows a piece is finished. Then, "I achieve such a fine polish that additions will not improve the piece," he said.

Dougherty's sculptures have been made throughout the United States at galleries, public parks and college campuses. He has also traveled to construct in Denmark, Ireland and Japan. Dougherty relies on word of mouth for his commissions and constructs approximately 89 sculptures yearly.

Dougherty said that he chose the Diag rather than other campus areas because it is so busy; he wanted to make the sculptures high, approximately 17 feet each, for visibility. The works needed to be large enough to count, and also safe to touch and walk through. He chose to create a circle of dwellings which create a walkway.

Dougherty said he likes the classic bottle shape of amphorae, so important during Grecian times. Each separate "element" is evocative of such associations.

Dougherty's works typically stay on site for about a year, until nature has taken its toll and the commissioners decide to lay them to rest.

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