Dougherty creating the installation at Holden Arboretum (Photo courtesy of Holden Forests & Gardens)
Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) opens a towering, playful outdoor sculpture experience at the Holden Arboretum this Saturday, August 29. Patrick Dougherty’s “Tilt-a-Whirl” sculpture is the latest in the “Stickwork” series, featured in more than 300 locations around the world from Scotland to Japan to Brussels, and all over the United States.
Dougherty describes the inspiration behind the Tilt-a-Whirl piece: “It looks like a flying wall, moving from one side to the other. You can go inside and into cubbies, it will be interesting to explore inside and out. We hope it looks like it’s really flowing — implied motion.”
“Stickwork” is being presented by support from Fleet Response and Key Private Bank. Pre-registration is required, and “Stickwork” is included with the price of admission. Adults are $15 and children ages and 3 to 12 years old are $10. For more information, visit holdenarb.org.
“We are thrilled to bring this whimsical outdoor sculpture to Northeast Ohio,” said Jill Koski, president and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “Patrick Dougherty’s outdoor artistry celebrates our connections to the natural world, and we are all appreciating and relying upon the benefits of nature more and more these days.”
Dougherty and his son began to create the structures made completely from willow sticks and branches on August 10. They worked daily with volunteers to complete the project. Arboretum visitors can view the work in the Spruce Knoll. The creation will be on view at the arboretum for at least one year, until it naturally deteriorates.
Dougherty will present a free lecture about his work titled “Primitive Ways in an Accelerated World” via Zoom on August 28 at 6 p.m. To register, visit https://holdenarb.org/hfg-virtual-classes/.
An exclusive member event will be held on August 31 from 2-7:30 p.m. This event is free for members, however pre-registration will be required. The Arboretum campus will be open to members only including access to Stickwork and the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower (weather permitting). Rain or shine event.
