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!

'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.

in the studio: roots & vines

.....taking inspiration from natures invasive ivy vines strangling and rooting into this grand old tree, I've recreated this in my recent sculptures and installations, both outside & in.

'roots & vines: plastica' Barbara De Pirro

2010 Carkeek Park, curated by CoCA Seattle.

'roots & vines: plastica' (detail) Barbara De Pirro

2010 Carkeek Park, curated by CoCA Seattle.

'roots & vines: plastica' Barbara De Pirro

Matzke Sculpture Park, Camano Island, WA

(Funding for 'roots &vines:plastica' was made possible by

Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) and CoCA Seattle)

'roots & vines' Barbara De Pirro

crocheted fiber encapsulated in acrylic, reinforced with steel and wood

more images here

'sprout plastica' - CoCA Seattle

'sprout plastica'      Barbara De Pirro

(plastic fiber, petals, twigs & steel)

‘sprout’

Unassumingly,

from beneath the rubble,

what appears to be….a barren landscape,

a seed trembles on the wind,

landing lightly on the moist surface.

Encouraged and nourished by rain,

its hard shell releases, attaching roots,

tenderly a shoot forms,

slowly reaching upwards

towards the radiant sky.

At first a single sprout

standing alone

and then another,

multiplying into a series of spires,

new life begins again.

'sprout plastica'       Barbara De Pirro

(plastic fiber, petals, twigs & steel)

'sprout' details      Barbara De Pirro

(plastic fiber, petals, twigs & steel)

'Overgrowth & Understory'

Sculpture Exhibit

Cougar Mountain Wilderness Park

Issaquah, WA

July 10 - October 2

Curated by David Frances, CoCA Seattle

For more information & images:

http://www.depirro.com/

http://depirro.blogspot.com/2010/07/overgrowth-and-understory.html

Funding for this project was made possible in part by Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP).

Special thanks to Antonia Xavie De Pirro for her assistance!

'roots & vines: plastica' - CoCA Seattle

.....taking inspiration from natures invasive ivy vines strangling and rooting into this grand old tree, I've recreated this in my recent sculpture 'roots & vines: plastica'.

'roots & vines: plastica'     Barbara De Pirro

(plastic fiber, cable & steel)

A mysterious unexpected form,

distant imagery,

familiar in an intimate way.

A web of fiber,

a tangle of forest vine,

exposed and twisted roots,

fibrous tendrils clinging to the surface,

enveloping the decaying wood,

humbly feeding off the unforgotten.

Natures cycle of decay and rebirth,

regeneration, renewal….life.

'roots & vines: plastica'       Barbara De Pirro
(plastic fiber, cable & steel)

'heaven and earth II'
Carkeek Park
Seattle, WA

June-September 2010

Curated by David Frances, CoCA Seattle


For more information & images:

http://www.depirro.com/installation.html
http://www.depirro.com/press.html

Funding for this project was made possible in part by CoCA Seattle and Artist Trust Grants for Artist Projects (GAP).

'fungo plastica' - Port Angeles Fine Art Center

'fungo plastica'       Barbara De Pirro

(plastic fiber & steel)

'...Petroleum-based nature blossoms in a grand old tree nearby in the form of Barbara De Pirro’s (Shelton) Fungo Plastica. Made from recycled plastic grocery bags, stretched into beige yarns then crocheted into spheres of many sizes, ranging from a marble to a softball, they are arranged in cloned progressions and clusters like a parasitic invading life form, nestled into cavities and fissures in the gnarled and ruptured bark....' *

Art Outside IX
Webster’s Woods Art Park

at

Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

Port Angeles, WA

(360) 457-3532

Curated by Jake Senuik *

For more information & images:
http://www.depirro.com/installation.html

 Funding for this project was made possible in part by Port Angeles Fine Art Center