Patrick Dougherty’s Incredible Nest Houses

Tue, Jan 27, 2009

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Childhood Dreams
Childhood Dreams
Image: Adam Rodriguez

If hobbits didn’t live under hills, they might like this homey structure that seems to fit right into its surroundings. It calls forth visions of a simpler world in keeping with nature and is one of sculptor Patrick Dougherty’s 150 amazing twig art installations that have sprung up all around the world to the wonderment of passersby since 1982.

Says curator Linda Johnson:

“Dougherty’s works allude to nests, cocoons, hives, and lairs built by animals, as well as the manmade forms of huts, haystacks, and baskets, created by interweaving branches and twigs together. Many of his works look ‘found’ rather than made, as if they were created by the natural force of a tornado sweeping across the landscape. He intentionally tries for this effortless effect, as if his creations just fell or grew up naturally in their settings.”

Be prepared to transport yourself to another world.

Na Hale ‘o waiawi (translated from Hawaiian to more or less mean ‘wild dwellings built from strawberry guava’
Na Hale 'o waiawi installation by Patrick Dougherty
Image: Paul Kodama

This one looks like an elven dwelling nestled in a protective mountain range:

Toad Hall
Toad Hall
Image: Nell Campbell

With the pull of a twig or the whisper of a magical phrase, these ‘buildings’ might lead you into another realm:

Around the Corner
Around the Corner
Image: Doyle Dean

Spinoffs
Spinoffs
Image: George Vasquez

Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild
Image: Duncan Price

And these look like comfy places to rest your head after a long day’s hike:

Close Ties
Close ties
Image: Fin Macrae

Trailheads
Trailheads
Image: North Carolina Museum of Art

Check out Patrick Dougherty’s site at stickwork.net to see more images of his amazing work. Unless otherwise noted, all images are via Dougherty’s web site.

Sources: 1, 2

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This post was written by:

Sonia - who has written 54 posts on Environmental Graffiti.


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1 Comments For This Post

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  1. Kauilani Says:

    I have a new appreciation for stick figures..this is beautiful.

1 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. Daily Dose: Nest Homes « MTI: Masonry Technology Inc. Says:

    [...] Sources: http://www.stickwork.net http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/patrick-dougherty-incredible-nest-houses/6642 [...]

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