Update - Back Yard Installation

In late May 2009, I began an experiment by placing two painted/printed/quilted pieces of art in both my front and and back yards. These were not pieces that I was particularly in like/love with, so I had no problem placing them out of doors for up to a year to see what would happen.

Shown above is the front side of the piece installed in my back yard, after living in the weather for 11+ months. It's a bit faded, especially the batik squarish parts that run top to bottom on both sides, and the back (below) is very dirty and mildewed after being rained and snowed on without the fabric being treated, and with the cotton quilt batting soaking up the moisture. Technically the front was treated because almost all of it was painted with acrylic-based fabric paints.


I really expected cleaner results than what I've got now, but remembering back to spring/summer 2009 and March 2010, it was REALLY really wet here. This past March alone we got about 15" of rain, so imagine the piece getting wet and drying again and again for a year.

Monthly pictures of both pieces, from last summer through mid-March, can be seen on my website. You can also read about it here on this blog.

My intention is to take the back yard piece down in a few days, and the front yard piece down shortly after that. I'm going to replace them with new work that is still fabric, stitched but not quilted, that is coated with acrylic matt medium for more protection. This will also allow for both sides of the piece to have color, and should help preserve it, similar to a how a freshly painted house or fence is protected. The new piece will be made in a similar way as the piece I have on exhibit at this time at the Studios Without Walls, for 6 weeks, but these new pieces will be outside for up to a year, to see how they do.

I'm rushing quite a bit to get the new backyard piece made and installed quickly because the clematis that grows nearby, and grew on the installation last year, is a month ahead of schedule due to our having an early spring. The clematis will be ready to grow on the new piece any day now, so I have to get it outside before it tries.

I'll post pictures of the new installation ASAP.

Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

It's been over a month since my last update about the outdoor installations in my back and front yard. The snow from last month is long gone. We got almost 10" of rain over three days last week that totally soaked these pieces as well as the rest of the state of Massachusetts. More rain is here again, with 2-3" expected.


Nine months into this experiment, here is the piece in my back yard. It's a little faded, especially the batik squarish parts that run top to bottom on both sides, and the back is bit dirty and a little mildewed. The clematis that grew on it is totally brown and dormant (as it should be this time of year), and needs to be cut back for spring growth.


The piece in my front yard is doing well. A little muddy from being outdoors for so long, but looking good just the same.

Monthly pictures of both pieces, from last summer through mid-March, can be seen on my website.

Both of these pieces are uncoated, quilted cotton fabric with cotton batting. My intention is to take these pieces down in late May at the latest, and to hopefully replace them with new work that is still fabric, but not quilted, that is coated with acrylic matt medium for more protection. This will also allow for both sides of the piece to have color. The quilted pieces outside now are white on the back sides.

Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

We got about 6" of snow yesterday, so I stepped outside to take pictures of my outdoor installations, since I haven't posted any updates since late December.


The piece above is in my back yard. Above is the full view and below is a detail to show how the snow is resting on the edges of the cut holes.





The same for the piece in my front yard. I love how the snow is resting on it.


It's nice having some color in my yard during the winter. Thankfully my neighbors are enjoying it too.

Visit my website, and another page on my blog, to see what both of these pieces have looked like surrounded in nature since they were installed in late spring 2009.

Outdoor Installations 2009 Review

After hearing suggestions to consider creating installations while I was at a Portfolio Review this past May, I decided to give it a try outdoors.


Fence Installation Series #1/16 is living in my back yard, and above are pictures of it in June after installation, and a week ago right after we got 14" of snow.


Fence Installation Series #1/22 is living in my front yard, and above are pictures of it in June after installation, and a week ago right after the same snowstorm.

I admit it sounds scary to take artwork created out of textiles and placing them out of doors, and it is, sort of. These two experimental pieces were created by using much older pieces that I really didn't care for before I cut holes in them or cut them in half, so it wasn't as scary as you'd think.

I am learning a lot as these pieces have been rained and snowed on, and I will use this research as I create new pieces.

You can see more pictures of these pieces on my website's Outdoor Installations page, and also read (just about) weekly updates here on my blog.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Hello winter! We got 14" +/- of light fluffy snow yesterday and it's quite lovely on and around my outdoor installations, as well as everywhere.

Above and below are pictures of the piece in my back yard. The top picture is after the snowfall and the bottom picture is from the day before.



And these above and below are pictures of the piece in my front yard, also after and before the snowfall.


On a challenge from some friends on facebook, I went outside in PJ bottoms and a coat/etc, and took the pictures, so here's a picture of me from the thigh down standing in the snow. 25 degrees was a bit cold to be outside in flannel, so when we shoveled out I wore my flannel lined jeans and felt much more comfortable.


See a selection of month to month pictures of these pieces on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Our first winter storm dumped about 3" of snow on my front and back yard installations. I admit I've been curious about what they would look like after a snowfall, though I'm not too excited about winter weather.

In my back yard the snow covered the clematis, which still has leaves on it, as well as some of the top edges of the installation.




In my front yard the snow was lighter due to either the trees blocking it as it fell, or due to the way it blew during the storm. There wasn't as much snow on the ground around the piece, but there was a nice white coating on the top of it as you can see below.


I don't know if this snow will melt away before the next storm, or if the next storm will be rain or snow, but I'll post more pictures in a week +/-.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Here's a look at both of my outdoor installations on Sunday, before leaf removal yesterday. I especially love how the piece in my front yard installation looked with leaves all around it. Nice color.


Here is the piece in my back yard installation, with the clematis growing on and around it, still nice and green.

Next week I'll show both pieces sans leaves surrounding them.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Another week, another update. My back yard installation looks the same from the front, but I just noticed it's getting green algae-like spots on the back side.


Note this picture of the back side. I don't know if the algae-like spots are only on the surface or are also in the cotton batting between the front and back fabrics. I think the fact that the clematis is growing on it and is lowering the ventilation around it is part of the cause. And, the back side does not get any sun on it like the front side does, and there's also the buckets of rain we've has this year.


My front yard installation is doing well. It has a little dirt and rust on the back side, but no green algae. This piece has much better ventilation since there aren't any plants growing on it.


Personally I don't mind that these pieces are getting dirty on the front or back. This is an experiment, and outdoor pieces in any material may break down or fall apart over time. It's hard to see behind the front yard piece above, but behind it is a lead handbag sculpture we purchased many many years ago. It is gradually being eaten by the squirrels. It used to be a stunning leather looking doctor's bag and now it's a skeleton of its self. I also have a few other sculptures in my yard that have been affected by nature, and that's part of its life. So far I'm considering this outdoor experiment a success. I'll keep posting about it to share and document it.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

I didn't notice the strong shadows coming from my front yard installation when I took this picture a few days ago. I really like it. Now that the leaves have fallen off the maple tree that was shading this piece all summer, I hope to see good shadows through April when the leaves come out again. It'll be interesting to see the shadows in the snow.


There are no changes in or around my back yard installation in the past week, except for a few fallen leaves here or there. I wonder when the clematis leaves will die off.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

My front yard installation is surrounded by fallen leaves.


Yesterday we had a bulky waste pickup ready in front of our house, and I was a bit of concerned because the pile of stuff to be picked up was REALLY close to it.


Because I wanted to make sure the DPW (Department of Public Works) knew it was to remain, I tied a sign to it. It also didn't hurt that I was home when they came for the pickup, so I went outside to make sure they saw the sign. I love our DPW. They assured me that they knew it was not for the taking. That was nice.


My back yard installation has some fallen leaves around it, and the grasses behind it are turning brown. The clematis leaves on it are still very green. I expect that to change shortly since cooler weather is upon us.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

There are no noticeable changes to either of my front and back yard installations. The only thing that's changed is what's around them, the color of plantings as they die back for winter, and the fallen leaves. There's still a lot of green here in eastern Massachusetts, and I'm interested in more surrounding color changes in the weeks ahead.

In my back yard is Fence Installation Series #1/16 (above).


And, in my front yard is Fence Installation Series #1/22.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

When I got home after doing Open Studios yesterday I rushed to take pictures of my two installations in their first snowfall before it got too dark. These pictures are a little blurry because my camera was a bit wet from the large falling snowflakes.

The top above shows better contrast of the white snow surrounding my backyard installation than the one below does, but I did want a straight on picture too.


I have lived in Massachusetts for most of my life, and I do not think we have ever had accumulating snow in mid-October. We have in mid-November, but not October as far as I remember. Yesterday's snow was the result of a fall Nor'easter and unusually cold weather.


The front yard installation is under a maple tree that still has most of its leaves, so there was no accumulating snow, but there are some fallen leaves and it was wet.


I really like the colored leaves surrounding this piece. It fits in very well. Very color coordinated. I look forward to more leaves falling around it in the coming weeks, and hopefully I'll get some good, not blurry, pictures in my documentation.

Beside here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Another week, another update of my front and back yard installations. In my back yard is Fence Installation Series #1/16. The clematis flowers have died back but the leaves are still quite full and green. I imagine they'll be dying back very soon since I think we had a frost last night. It'll be interesting to see the color change and how it looks around this piece.


In my front yard is Fence Installation Series #1/22. It's living under a maple tree, and I'm looking forward to seeing the color of the fallen leaves around it in the next few weeks.

Besides here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Fall weather is upon us, the flowers clematis growing on my back yard installation are already past peak and are dying off. Very different than the same clematis that was in bloom in my side yard for over a month. Oh well. I did get a few decent pictures of it in full bloom I think.


Except for a some fallen maple tree leaves scattered about, my front yard installation looks the same in its environment. Only the scenery is changing. Not the piece.

Besides here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

I'll post another update in a week.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

The clematis is in full bloom on my back yard installation. It smells REALLY good, like grape jelly, and to be perfectly honest, it was REALLY hard to get a good photograph. The brightness with all of the white flowers made it hard to shoot, but I found that when there was shade, it was a lot easier.


I expect the flowers to be in bloom for quite a few weeks, unless we get a killing frost, which could happen but who knows when.



My front yard installation is the same, and there's no nature interacting with it (yet). There will be when it snows.

Besides here on my blog, you can see a few month to month pictures on my website.

I'll post new pictures in a week thereabout.

Backyard Installation / Clematis

The clematis that is growing on my back yard installation has finally bloomed. I've been watching it grow and bud, and waiting for the buds to open for weeks, and it has finally happened. Yeah!


No matter how hard I tried, it didn't photograph very well. Bummer. Above is a detail shot of some of the flowers growing in front of the installation. I'll try to get better pictures.

To compare what this piece and my front yard piece have looked like since installation, there are some monthly images on my website.

Weekly Update - Front and Back Yard Installations

Here is an update of my front and back yard installations.


In my back yard is Fence Installation Series #1/16. The diagonal view shows how wild my yard is right now with the Clematis about to bloom and the Queen Anne's Lace going to seed.


The Clematis is growing all over this piece. It is starting to flower though it's hard to see in this picture.


This is a back view. It's easier to see the Clematis against the white.


In my front yard is Fence Installation Series #1/22.


The picture above shows how the upper edges of this piece are curling over after being rained on numerous times. Next time I make an outdoor installations, I'll place the piping closer to the top and edges.


This is a view from the back, showing the curling edges and some rust form the pipes.

More updates soon. Especially when the Clematis is in full bloom in the backyard, which should be any day now.