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 THE
ARTGARDENS OF PITTSBURGH
The ArtGardens is a large-scale outdoor installation gallery where
the medium of the art is growing plants. While many installation
artists use plants, these works have been installed in isolated
sites and have not necessarily been distinguished from works that
do not use growing materials. Bringing garden installations together
at one venue showcases gardening as a contemporary art genre.
Phase One of the ArtGardens is being developed at Frank Curto Park,
a highly visible public green space along Bigelow Boulevard in Pittsburgh,
PA. The park runs for one mile along a well-traveled roadway near
downtown. Although the gardens in this phase are viewed primarily
from the road, the goal is to introduce this art concept to the
public and build interest and support for the development of a larger
venue that will allow the public to stroll intimately among the
installations.
Artists are invited through a curatorial process. Garden artists
include environmental artists, artists who garden, artists who work
with growing plant materials, community gardeners, and backyard
gardeners. While sculptural forms may be introduced, growing plant
materials must be used as the primary medium. Generally the installations
will be on the scale of an average backyard garden. Some gardens
may only span a season; others may require maintenance plans for
multiple seasons.
In the summer of 2002 artists Lily
Yeh and Daniel
Ladd created the inaugural installations at Frank Curto Park.
In 2003, Stephanie
Flom and
Delanie Jenkins made additional ArtGarden installations. Delanie's workinsk
is supported by a Heinz Endowment Creative Heights Award in partnership
with Manchester Craftsmen's Guild.
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