New York-based artist Roxy Paine’s work fuses organic with mechanical, making life-like replicas of natural structures in man-made materials. His stainless steel trees manage to retain the sense of spontaneity that we expect from organic objects, while being completely machine-made and rigidly planned. Paine’s highly detailed reconstructions of natural phenomena explore the tension between the natural and the built. In his piece Crop he carefully reconstructed a small patch of wild poppies and his piece Weed Choked Garden brings a decaying garden to eye level. By bringing reconstructed natural objects into a gallery setting you’re forced to consider things you might have ignored in its usual setting.
Paine’s work reminds us of the importance of the natural world and how it continues to fight for survival amongst the structures and debris of modernity. With Woolly Pocket you can help plants fight back. Woolly Pocket makes urban gardening easy; let nature reclaim a fence, wall or even an indoor structure.
Kids want to help reclaim spaces for nature too! Woolly pocket helps schools grow gardens so that students can learn the basics of gardening and the satisfaction that comes with growing your own food. Their Woolly School Gardens project that connect schools looking to start a garden with community members looking to support their efforts. Visit Woolly School Garden and find a school near you to sponsor.
Weed Choked Garden
Weed Choked Garden (detail)
