I love yard art

Ok, I know, this could blow my credibility as an art lover and I may have to sacrifice a decoder ring but it  is the truth and I can't hide it any longer.

Allow me to explain--we have a home in Illinois that is part of a townhouse complex.  Except for the color of the siding, these attached homes all look alike.  There is very little room for self-expression on the outside of each home.  

Yard art individualizes each home.  It is great way to express yourself while adding something to the neighborhood.   Neighbors comment on it so you get to know your neighbors if you want.


And, quite often yard art is made with recycled metals.  This is also a good thing.  And, in these current times, it is very reasonably priced so you can get a bunch of different things for a relatively small outlay of cash, leaving you money to also buy good things for inside your home.


I also appreciate the creativity of the people who make this type of art.  Taking a machine part and seeing a part of a flower or animal in this piece is something I can't do.  

 

I volunteer at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and since they have been displaying art throughout the garden for the last 6 years, their membership has more than doubled.  Seeing different pieces of art surrounded by all the plants and trees can be a a beautiful synergy.  


(Stone birds do not qualify as good yard art because they are manufactured from prefab pieces specifically made for the birds.  My bird has never looked good to me once I found out about its origins.)

There, I have said it.  

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  • I LOVE good yard/garden art. It adds visual interest and looks great in the winter months when the all the vegetation has died back. My gardens wouldn't be the same without my collections. My yard art collection grows a bit each year just like my gardens do. : ) I'd like to think my neighborhood enjoys the visual tapestry my yard and gardens provide-I KNOW my friends and family all like the ambiance!
  • Also sadly, there is a lot of vandalism and outright theft so all the good pieces must go in the backyard while the stick stuff and less obvious pieces are safer in the front yard.    I have yard art in my house also.  Stone and metal work well with my glass and pottery.  I still regret not buying a piece I saw last summer that would fit a corner of my house perfectly.  If I find that artist again, I will not hesitate.
  • I agree.  Good yard art is noticeable and sold by knowledgeable artists.  I love good yard art and wish I could afford more of it.  I love the heft, the feel and the quality craftsmanship put into good pieces.

     

    Sadly, there's a lot of that $20....stuff (kindly coined "s...t on a stick" by other artists) floating around art shows.  I'll admit to one of the artists who has grown weary of seeing it.

  • People who love yard art have kept my business alive (raku Buddha sculptures) and I am enormously grateful!!  Getting ready to show at the huge Northwest Flower and Garden Show...and if it goes as well as I hope it will, I'll target more of these kinds of shows in the future :)
  • Call it outdoor sculpture. Problem solved :)
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