The Summer Palace, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2009. Photographer: Rob Cardillo.

Like fantasy playgrounds that appear to have sprouted and grown all own their own, North Carolina based artist Patrick Dougherty weaves these intricate sculptures from sticks, saplings and vines. His site specific sculptural installations invite the public to wander in and around their elaborate rooms - and quite frankly, I’m ready to move in. The major obstacle to me sending out change of address cards is that that these pieces are temporary in nature and typically only last a season or two. See more of Patrick’s brilliant stick architecture on his website.

“Combining his carpentry skills with his love of nature, Patrick Dougherty began to learn about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material. Beginning about 1980 with small works, fashioned is his backyard, he quickly moved from single pieces on conventional pedestals to monumental site-specific installations that require sticks by the truckload. To date he has built over two hundred such massive sculptures all over the world.”

Around the Corner, University of Southern Indiana, New Harmony Gallery, New Harmony, IN, 2003. Photographer: Doyle Dean.

Close Ties, Brahan Estate, Dingwall, Scottish Highlands, 2006. Photographer: Fin Macrae.

Na Hale ‘o waiawi (Roughly translated from the Hawaiian language to mean: Wild Dwellings Built from Strawberry Guava). The Contemporary Art Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2003. Photographer: Paul Kodama.

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