Salixology (WILLOWS & SCULPTURE) with Patrick Dougherty

It’s the Ologies 9th Anniversary episode – and the customary gift is willow. So I reached out to an artist whose work means a lot to me, and convinced world-renowned environmental sculptor Patrick Dougherty to chat about his work, and about willows in general. Twisting and tangling literal tons of willow saplings, Patrick and his crews create huge, site-specific sculptures that look like fantastical buildings, but made almost entirely of sustainably-sourced branches. I’ve loved his work for decades, and this chat was like a kid meeting their basketball hero. We also address: cleaning up ecology with willows, their spine-like roots, why some willows weep, plumbing follies, medicinal uses of willows, why they’re so bendy, the poetry that nature inspires, why sniffing sticks is healthy, the physics of birds’ nests, and reconnecting with the wonder you had as a child. Instant classic.
Visit Patrick’s website (stickwork.net) and follow him on Instagram (instagram.com/patrickdoughertysculptor)
Buy James Florio’s photography book Sticks (radiusbooks.org/all-books/p/patrick-dougherty-…) featuring 16 of Patrick’s projects
A donation went to the NC Conservation Network (ncconservationnetwork.org)
More episode sources and links (alieward.com/ologies/salixology)
Other episodes you may enjoy: Dendrology (TREES) (alieward.com/ologies/2018/5/7/wdppyiv1wrcs8gch…), Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING) (alieward.com/ologies/canistrumology), Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS) (alieward.com/ologies/ethnoecology), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING) (alieward.com/ologies/indigenousfashionology), Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART) (alieward.com/ologies/moderntoichographology), FIELD TRIP: I Take You to the Making of a Mural (alieward.com/ologies/mural), Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) (alieward.com/ologies/salugenology), Castorology (BEAVERS), (alieward.com/ologies/castorology) Field Trip: How to Change Your Life via the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles (alieward.com/ologies/fieldtripnhm)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions (maitlandaudio.com) and Jake Chaffee (jecmusic.com)
Managing Director: Susan Hale
Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth
Transcripts by Aveline Malek
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer (kellyrdwyer.com/photo)
Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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