Green multiples....

Hives on Camano

'Hive'     Barbara De Pirro

In celebration of the miraculous Bee....buzzzzzzz.

'Hive', Installed in a grand old Cedar tree at

Matzke Sculpture Park on Camano Island

Created using reclaimed plastic bottles,

stitched together with staples and stainless steel pins.

'Hive'     Barbara De Pirro

a little bit closer....

'Hive'     Barbara De Pirro

moving around the tree....

'Hive'     Barbara De Pirro

A detail shot that shows how 'Hive' is stitched together with staples.

I love how the light illuminates this material!

Blooms Below

Mesmerizing Movement

Aerial View

Cameron Davidson captures our world from above...

More about this artist HERE

Art Forms in Nature

Another most inspiring book, thanks to Ernst Haeckel!

A childhood gift from my mother that has greatly 

affected how I view the world 

and the art that I create.

Natural World

Flowers    magnification x 1,175

During my research for my current exhibit, Lucid, I came across another amazing book, The Natural World Close-up by Giles Sparrow.  Here's a glimpse into its pages.....

 Mosses    magnification x 490

Snake Skin     magnification x 1,275

Plant Stems    magnification x 100

Soil    magnification x c.400

love of trees

Those of you that know me also know of my love of trees.  I recently came upon this amazing book, I must share it with you!

The Life & Love of Trees

by Lewis Blackwell

Here are just a few of the inspiring images you'll find within its pages.....

Region: Japan     Photographer:  Tohoku Color Agency

Region: Australia   Photographer:  Kevin Schafer

Region: China   Photographer:  Steve Taylor

Region: Europe   Photographer:  Oxford Scientific

Region: Northern Hemisphere   Photographer:  Richard Mack

Region: California   Photographer:  Logan Mock-Bunting

'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

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.