ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Artist in Residence at Davidson College Welcomes Volunteers to Help With His “Stickwork” Project
The size and scale of Dougherty’s “Birthday Palace” is evident with this group of current and former Davidson residents standing at the entrance.
Patrick Doughty (photo by David C. Calicchio)
The Davidson College art gallery invites members of the public to participate in creation of a “stickwork” sculpture with artist Patrick Dougherty February 3-21. Using minimal tools and a simple technique of bending, interweaving, and fastening together sticks, Dougherty creates works of art inseparable from nature and the landscape.
Volunteers have already collected a trailer-truck load of sticks and saplings from college property. More volunteers are needed during the following three weeks to assist Dougherty as he fashions the sticks into a large “semi-permanent” piece of art at the northwest side of the E.H. Little Library. Examples of Dougherty’s work can be found at www.stickwork.net
Volunteers will be needed for two four-hour shifts on most days throughout the residency. The helpers need no specific skills other than enthusiasm, physical stamina, and the ability to follow directions. Helpers should be able to reach overhead and bend, kneel, sit on the ground, and carry bundles of sticks. Duties may also involve weaving large sticks and saplings, climbing scaffolding, and stripping leaves and twigs from saplings.
Inside Dougherty’s “Birthday Palace,” which is located in the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.
Volunteer helpers need to sign up at this site.
Dougherty will also make two public presentations. The first will be on Thursday, February 6, 6-7 p.m. in Semans Lecture Hall of the Belk Visual Art Center. The unveiling of the finished work will occur on Thursday, February 21, at 4:30 p.m. at the site, with remarks at 5 p.m. in the nearby Hamilton W. McKay Atrium, E. Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center.
The project is being made possible with by the generous support of Marcy and Steve Sands ’68
Bill Giduz
Bill Giduz was the son who followed his father’s footsteps into journalism. He has been involved his entire life with news and photography in schools he attended and jobs he’s held. He believes now that he’s got a few good years left to devote to The News of Davidson.