for mary
We spent the weekend catching up with old friends, taking in a concert, generally chilling and just being. One of the highlights was a visit to the Hillier Arboretum-a short stone’s throw from where our friends live. We visit whenever we are in the area because of the outstanding variety of trees and shrubs, but a winter visit is especially delightful.
Many of the plantings in the winter garden are heavily scented, and we walked in the fragrance of Witch hazels , winter honeysuckle and Daphnes, admiring the newly flowering hellebores, extensive drifts of snowdrops and crocus, and the first daffodils, just in time for St David’s Day.
The gardens often feature art work, especially in the summer, but this installation, using found objects provided by the trees, really caught our attention.There was no explanation with it, nor in the leaflet, so I invite you to interpret it as you will. Click to enlarge Mr. Threadspider’s pictures.
How wonderful to encounter this artwork and then be free to intrepret it for yourselves. For me, I was first struck by the beautiful elegance of the catenary arch. Then the individual treatment of the objects drew my attention. They’re grouped but also singled out – each with its own string and careful knot. It raises all sorts of questions about selection, collection and display. It makes you very aware of your desire for understanding. Especially to know more about who did this.
I’ll enjoy hearing what you and others see in the piece. That’s the best part about artworks like these. Learning what different people see in the same things.
My first reaction was surprise-the installation stood alone in the gardens and was stumbled upon unexpectedly.Secondly, I immediately thought of Butcher birds, who catch insects and impale them on thorns on bushes to “save” for later. The leaves, twigs and cones each had that captured and impaled look. I then felt perhaps not captured, but conserved, the essence of the summer just gone preserved against the winter. I particularly liked the cocooned look and feel of the cones-the seeds inside protected but exhibited like a beloved child.
The arches with evenly spaced leaves suspended from them remind me of stringed instruments, or perhaps chimes; and then I imagine a dry crackly sound when the wind blows. The bare branches and tree bark behind help set up a lovely sense of space. I am also reminded of the lovely film by Andy Goldsworthy called Rivers and Tides. Our local University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum usually has an annual outdoor art exhibit. A recent one involved various interpretations of the tree house. Visitors have an opportunity to learn the species of trees while enjoying the art.
Oh yes-an aeolian harp type of instrument. The music of the leaves.