Surface Design Article

Mixing Invasive Media to Create Environmental Awareness

How many times had I stopped to examine this grand old tree with its gnarled and ruptured bark?

I was in awe of its unsettling beauty, utterly engulfed in a web of invasive ivy, with a strangle hold so deeply rooted into the surface; the tree bulged from underneath the vine’s unrelenting grip.

The spark. This is where it began.

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Many thanks to Surface Design Association!

Botanica

Fraker/Scott Gallery

121 Prefontaine Pl S.

Seattle, WA

206/883-4633

November 3 - December 31

Opening for Seattle's Pioneer Square Art Walk

Thursday, November 3, 5-8 PM

Artist Presentation and Holiday Reception

Saturday November 19, 5-7 PM

More details HERE

'pollinate' (detail)    Barbara De Pirro

'conifer' (detail)    Barbara De Pirro

Intertwined, Requiem for the Trees

The Harbor History Museum is hosting an exhibit that explores the human connection to trees.

Outreach to the arts community was initiated by Pat Lantz, WA State Parks Commissioner, in response to the pending removal of trees in Kopachuck Park.

Artists were called to bear witness and memorialize the magnificence of trees.

The exhibit runs from
October 1-16, 2011
in the lobby of the Harbor History Museum.

More images & information HERE

'roots & vines'   Barbara De Pirro

'forest weavings' on Camano Island

'forest weavings'      Barbara De Pirro

My outdoor series of installations ‘forest weavings’ utilize invasive plant species, such as ivy vine.  Removing it from the forest, I weave it into nests, a symbol of shelter and protection.  Once each sculpture is dried, they are then tucked safely back into the trees.  My intent is to raise awareness to the fact that invasive, plant species have contributed to a huge decline in the diversity of our indigenous plants, endangering our native species.

'forest weavings'      Barbara De Pirro

'forest weavings'      Barbara De Pirro

On view now at,

Matzke Gallery & Sculpture Park
2345 Blanche Way
Camano Island, WA
360.387.2759

'forest weavings'      Barbara De Pirro

This piece was also created with invasive plant species (ivy vines, scotch broom), waste wood (tree pruning’s) woven into reclaimed plastic shellfish mesh.

More information HERE
More images HERE

'forest weavings' at Carkeek Park

Trees whipped and tattered from the winter storms

leaving behind branches, lying broken, seemingly forgotten,

a woody web on the forest floor.

A warm air breezes in, a breath of new life

reaching for the sky, the fallen twigs collectively gather,

like a loom weaving in the wind,

rhythmic patterns form an interlocking mesh,

gently wrapping its protective shawl,

around and between the trees.

art playfully dances with nature.

I've been exploring art created with invasive plant species (ivy vines, scotch broom) as well as, waste wood (apple tree pruning’s, broken branches)

My alternative to burning! 

All of this is woven into scraps of reclaimed plastic shellfish mesh that washes up on my beach.

On exhibit now at Carkeek Park, Seattle, WA

'Heaven and Earth 3'

Curated by CoCA Seattle.

July 9 - October 10

For more information & a printable map,

HERE

'forest weavings' was funded in part by CoCA Seattle.

Special thanks to Antonia De Pirro, Ashlynn Hamlin, Beth De Pirro & Marilyn Innes.

'flora plastica…the next incarnation'

'flora plastica' (detail)   Barbara De Pirro

Re-installed into its secondary location, 'flora' takes on a different role, this time a magical gateway into the third level of TAM.

'flora plastica'    Barbara De Pirro

This site specific sculpture was created using over 2,000 recycled plastic bags. The bags were contributed by the local community, collected over the past several years. All of the bags were used in their raw state, no dyes or paints were applied, the color is the actual hue of the bag. Each bag was cut into 2 inch strips, creating a synthetic fiber that was then crocheted into the
 various plant and flower forms.

'flora plastica' (detail)    Barbara De Pirro

'flora plastica' was commissioned by Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Garden Club.

in the studio: 'flora plastica'

'flora plastica'         Barbara De Pirro

Since last November, I’ve been madly crocheting through mind-boggling mountains of brilliantly, colored plastic bags. Averaging about 6-8 hours a day, hundreds ...eeek nearly two thousand hours...crocheting through the same number of bags. My challenge was to transform this invasive, synthetic material into a floral extravaganza, titled ‘flora plastica’*.

This site-specific sculpture will initially be suspended within the Tacoma Art Museum's entry atrium in celebration of ‘Flora & Fine Art’. In the lobby for a month, then mid July it will be re-installed, settling into a new space also within the Museum.

'flora plastica' (in process)       Barbara De Pirro

I arrived at the museum with 4 five gallon containers packed full of the completed sculpture and 2 large 're-useable' bags stuffed with all finishing materials and tools. The museum was closed to the general public which allowed me the space to spill out onto the lobby floor.

'flora plastica' (in process)       Barbara De Pirro

Although the initial installation would be suspended 14 feet across the museums entry atrium, after 1 month, it would re-installed into a secondary spot....details to be determined. Keeping this in mind, I designed it in strands or individual components. This would allow it to take on various forms, adapting to different situations.

'flora plastica' (in process)       Barbara De Pirro

These individual strands were threaded onto 1/8" airplane cable, able to securely withstand its full weight. If you look closely you can see that between each strand I strung a 1/4" bead to help maintain spacing even after gravity had its time to play.

'flora plastica' (in process)       Barbara De Pirro

Centering the piece within the 14 foot span, each side was finished off with vine, leaves, pods and bee hives.

Special thanks to Museum Preparators

Cyrus Smith and Jeremy Mangan

It took all three of us to hoist it onto the lift

and four art 'Genies' to install !!

'flora plastica'       Barbara De Pirro

Special thanks to Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Garden Club

…and of course, all my friends & family for providing me with this plastic abundance and for all your fantastic support!

*'flora plastica' was commissioned by Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Garden Club.

'flora plastica' coming to Tacoma Art Museum

'flora plastica' photo abstraction       Barbara De Pirro

Since last November, I’ve been madly crocheting through mind-boggling mountains of brilliantly, colored plastic bags. My challenge has been to transform this invasive, synthetic material into a floral extravaganza, titled, ‘flora plastica’*.

This site-specific sculpture will initially be suspended above the museums lobby in celebration of ‘Flora & Fine Art’. Then come July it will be re-installed, settling into a new space within the Museum.

*Funding for 'flora plastica' was made possible in part by Tacoma Art Museum and Tacoma Garden Club.

Special thanks to all my friends & family for providing me with this plastic abundance and for all your fantastic support!

Flora & Fine Arts

June 10–12

Artwork from Tacoma Art Museum’s permanent collection serves as inspiration for floral arrangements created by local designers in Flora & Fine Arts on June 11 and 12. This special, one-weekend-only exhibition showcases nearly three dozen floral designs exhibited with the iconic works of Northwest art that sparked the floral artists.

In partnership with Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma Garden Club invited prominent Puget Sound designers and members of the Garden Club to create dazzling floral arrangements inspired by the colors, textures, and compositions of the art.

“Showcasing art in a new and exciting ways while showcasing local, talented designers is an opportunity for the museum to connect people through art in unexpected ways,” said Stephanie A. Stebich, Director of Tacoma Art Museum. “Flora & Fine Arts is a wonderful example of how art can inspire us in unexpected ways.”

This exhibition has been inspired by similar events at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

The exhibition will also include a site-specific installation titled 'Flora Plastica' * by Barbara De Pirro created from an array of brilliantly colored, recycled, plastic shopping bags.

Flora and Fine Arts also includes a special exhibition preview on Friday, June 10, as well as the Spring into Summer Garden Festival on Saturday, June 11. This family festival will feature workshops, hands-on art-making activities, and lectures by notable garden experts Ed Hume and Valarie Easton.

‘Circles'

'Artistic interpretations of this universal shape’

A group show of over 50 regional artists, curated by Charlotte Beall, hosted by ERA Living.

I will be showing a combination of both my paintings and sculptures.

June 13 – Oct. 16

University House Wallingford

4400 Stone Way North, Seattle

in the studio: roots & vines

.....taking inspiration from natures invasive ivy vines strangling and rooting into this grand old tree, I've recreated this in my recent sculptures and installations, both outside & in. 

'roots & vines: plastica'      Barbara De Pirro

2010 Carkeek Park, curated by CoCA Seattle

'roots & vines: plastica' (detail)       Barbara De Pirro

2010 Carkeek Park, curated by CoCA Seattle

'roots & vines: plastica'       Barbara De Pirro

Matzke Sculpture Park, Camano Island, WA

(Funding for 'roots &vines:plastica' was made possible by
 Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) and CoCA Seattle)

'roots & vines'      Barbara De Pirro

crocheted fiber encapsulated in acrylic, reinforced with steel and wood 

more images here

Spring on Camano

'pollinate' (detail)     Barbara De Pirro

(crocheted fiber, encapsulated in acrylic)

'conifer' (detail)       Barbara De Pirro

(crocheted fiber, encapsulated in acrylic, reinforced w/steel)

Then on beautiful Camano Island
at
Matzke Fine Art Gallery & Sculpture Park

I’m introducing two new sculptures, ‘conifer’ and ‘pollinate’,
crocheted fiber, encapsulated in acrylic.

May 6 - June 19

‘Play with Hot & Cold’

While you're there be sure to check out my 3 outdoor installations,'vine, flow & root plastica'. *

more images here

MATZKE FINE ART GALLERY AND SCULPTURE PARK
2345 Blanche Way, Camano Island, Wa.

http://www.matzkefineart.com/

Open weekends 11am-5pm,

weekdays by appointment 360-387-2759

* Funding for 'vine, flow & root plastica' was made possible by Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP).

Art Auction at Matzke Fine Art Gallery

'sprig'      Barbara De Pirro

(acrylic on wood)

The 2nd Annual Live

ART AUCTION FOR THE ARTISTS

Invitational

April 23rd, 2011 (saturday) PARTY starting at 4:00. Seventy five pieces of fine art (all mediums) will be auctioned. A $ 20. per person registration fee auction night. The Auction starts promptly at 6pm. Preview the art work April 16th,17th and 23rd, 11 to 5pm

Matzke Fine Art Gallery

2345 Blanche Way,

Camano Island, WA

360-387-1239 or 360-387-2759

http://www.matzkefineart.com/

While you're there be sure & check out the sculpture park!

in the studio: ice, honey, amber

What begins as a humble disc of ice precariously balanced

within the branches of an apple tree,

translates into this unexpected sculptural detail

representing ice, honey or amber.

'fractured'     Barbara De Pirro

(acrylic encapsulated styrene & steel)

'unearthed'     Barbara De Pirro

(crocheted fiber encapsulated in acrylic & steel)

H'Arts Benefit Auction

'fruttosio'      Barbara De Pirro

H'Arts 2011

Helping the Arts Benefit Auction

February 26, 5-10:00 PM

Schack Art Center

http://www.schack.org

(425) 259-5050



reflections......

'kelp plastica'      Deception Pass on-site      Barbara De Pirro

reflections on the last decade & beyond

meander here....

'vortex plastica' - Spaceworks Tacoma



'vortex plastica'         Barbara De Pirro
(photo credit: Duncan Price)

'...With its expert use of garden-fresh color (the expanse of recycled bottlecaps is mindful of a field of blooming flowers), the art piece has the power to attract, delight, surprise and repel  (when it is discovered what the material is), in short order. No wonder – like a figment from a nightmare, vortex plastica was inspired by the North Pacific Gyre, which carries an enormous and deadly “garbage patch” of plastics and refuse that is perpetually locked in its ocean currents....'
Lisa Kinoshita, Spaceworks Tacoma

Installation runs through February 28, 2011

For more information & images:
http://www.depirro.com/installation.html
http://www.depirro.com/press.html

'vortex plastica'       Barbara De Pirro

(photo credit: Duncan Price)

Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma, Shunpike,
and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce

Funding for this project was made possible in part by Spaceworks Tacoma
and Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP).