My students and I have been exploring contemporary environmental sculpture—meaning conservation-minded in subject, intention, materials. We looked at inspiring images and visited the wonderful Guandu Nature Park nearby our campus, which was formed in 1983 as an effort to preserve wetlands, especially for birds. It’s become known for viewing endemic and migrating birds—up to 229 species recorded there! The park is also famous for annual public art installations using natural materials, often bamboo, which is lightweight, strong, and environmentally sustainable. Two Guandu artists came to my class to share techniques for splitting and tying bamboo. And I demonstrated bending bamboo with heat—which I had learned from other artists in Taiwan three years ago. It feels good to pass the knowledge on!
Bending bamboo with a torch: the heat softens bamboo’s protective coating, allowing fibers to bend slowly; shape holds when cooled with water
Visualization and planning on site are critical to outdoor installation work
Students create a pair of sculptures inspired by two trees, one living and one dying
Skills practiced: brainstorm, sketch, measure, cut, construct, tie, climb, problem-solve, revise, meet deadline, publicize!
Large-scale Bird Nest built in the living tree with fallen branches found on campus
Enormous Bird takes flight from the dying tree, constructed with found bamboo and banana fronds
Collaborative team celebrates accomplishment of creative goals!