on the beach....

zucca

photo credit      Barbara De Pirro

photo credit      Barbara De Pirro

photo credit      Barbara De Pirro

photo credit      Barbara De Pirro

photo credit      Barbara De Pirro

Flooded pumpkin patch in Northeast....

more HERE

'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

Meander through my magical garden....

Hydrangea

Lilac

Lupin

Iris

Foxglove

Rhododendron

Sweet Pea

Thistle

Euphorbia

Day Lily

Tiger Flower

Onion Flower

Daisy

last but not least.....the humble dandelion

yellow divine!

Scotch broom, Cytisus scopariusin,
is considered to be a noxious invasive species…

but on this day,

I was engulfed in a
field of yellow
& it was magical!

with just a splash of
orange red!

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.

the natural line

'...seeds dancing in the grass....'

'...sweet whispers...'

'....thriving in the folds of a tree...'

'clustered at the edge of the forest...'

'...framed in shadow & light...'

'...the thick smell of seaweed...'

'...a woody web of branches...'