Saturday, July 16, 2011

'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,

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

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

Saturday, July 9, 2011

'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.