Patrick Dougherty creates large-scale sculptures from woven saplings and branches, demonstrating the structural possibilities of natural materials. His installations, known as “stickwork,” appear in arboretums, museums, and public spaces worldwide.
Video: Loop de Loop Installation
This installation at Morris Arboretum showcases Dougherty’s technique of weaving flexible saplings into habitable-scale structures.
Design Details
- Artist: Patrick Dougherty
- Medium: Woven saplings and branches
- Style: Large-scale natural sculptures
- Technique: Traditional basket-weaving scaled to architectural size
- Materials: Locally-sourced flexible saplings
- Lifespan: Temporary installations (typically 2-3 years)
- Website: stickwork.net
Lessons from Natural Building
- Woven Structures Have Surprising Strength: Basket-weaving techniques create rigid forms from flexible materials
- Local Materials Reduce Costs: Saplings pruned from nearby trees eliminate transportation and material expenses
- Traditional Techniques Scale Up: Ancient basket-making methods apply to shelter-sized structures
- Natural Materials Are Biodegradable: These structures return to the earth when their useful life ends
- Art Installations Inspire Practical Building: Sculptural experiments demonstrate possibilities for functional natural construction
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