Looking East 6 Degrees North

Back in January, I submitted a proposal for a living willow structure for the EXPOSED exhibit coming up July through October 2013 at the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, VT.

www.helenday.com/

EXPOSED is an outdoor sculptural exhibit that takes place along the recreation path in Stowe every year. Very high visibility.

Guess what?!

My proposal was accepted!

I have to say, I was, quite honestly, shocked! I mean, I was just taking the action... putting myself 'out there', you know?

After that initial shock though, I was, of course, 'as pleased as Punch'... thrilled... very excited... and scared to death too.

My proposal was accepted with two stipulations. One. It could not be a permanent structure. And two. Installation has to be at the end of June. Both of those things more or less indicate then, that it cannot be a 'living' structure. Living structures are generally planted in the winter or spring and are intended to be permanent.

This is kind of a relief to me though as it takes the pressure off to actually have it be living at the time of the exhibition.

Here's the info I recently submitted to HDAC for their website and promotion purposes along with my initial design sketches:

“Looking East, 6 Degrees North”

This piece pays tribute to my six month sojourn in a beautiful woodland in Kent, England. Daily working alongside a local underwoodsman, I learned traditional woodland management techniques, using traditional tools, and then had opportunity to craft, by hand, the same traditional green wood crafts that have been made in England for centuries.

In form, this piece takes its inspiration from two popular green wood structures frequently found in the English landscape, a bower and a hurdle fence. It also features many of the traditional weaving patterns historically used in basketry that have been adapted for working on pieces of a much larger scale, including living willow structures.

Living willow structures are intended to be permanent fixtures in the landscape they are planted in. Growing and changing with the years. Willow is particularly fitted to this concept, due to its adaptability, flexibility for weaving and its propensity to live. Because this piece is not intended to be a permanent structure I am deviating from using strictly willow in its construction and will explore the use of native and invasive species of woody plants and herbaceous perennials found along the waterways and in the woodlands of Vermont.

 

When I finally get the entire drawing scanned, I'll post that here too, for your viewing pleasure.

It is a gorgeous day here in the Mad River Valley. Brisk. Sunny. Exhilarating. Feels like a walk to me! Yes, spring is in the air!

Hope you are great.

love, susie