Building Sculpture on Location: A Melding of Design and Community

Patrick Dougherty combines his carpentry skill with his love for nature to build large-scale, onsite temporary sculptures out of tree saplings. In 1982 his first work was included in the North Carolina Biennial Artists' Exhibition sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Art. The following year, he had his first one-person show. His work quickly evolved from single pieces on conventional pedestals to monumental-scale environments that required saplings by the truckloads. During the last two decades, he has built over 150 works throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Dougherty will be building a "habitat-sized" work in Ada Hayden Park for the Ames Public Art Commission. Part of the College of Design 30th Anniversary Celebration.