Before driving back home from Santa Barbara yesterday, I stopped at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, which I hadn't visited for at least 35 years. I love these refuges, and always make a point of visiting them in whatever city I happen to be.
On this day, I happened to be lucky enough to be one of the first of the general public to see Patrick Dougherty's new installation entitled Toad Hall (after the book Wind in the Willows). If you've ever seen and loved the fantastic documentary on artist Andy Goldsworthy, Rivers and Tides, you'll love this installation.
My immediate impress
ion was of coming upon a Borneo longhouse -- a big beautiful hideaway in a forest clearing. Goosebumps developed as I got closer and examined the willow sprigs used to create this structure (inspired by the Santa Barbara Mission).
Dougherty's meta-inspiratiom derives from a childhood taking solitary walks in the forest, seeking out places to explore and hide in the underbrush. If you were one of those kinds of kids, you'll especially love this.
