From the beginning of time, artists have been inspired by the beauty of nature but how about all the ways that art, in turn, influences our perception of the world around us?
Gardens can be places of wonder, healing, exploration and a palette for the creativity we were born with. Gardens are also the natural playgrounds of children, where imagination thrives, and teach all of us lessons about the fragility of the environment.
We can learn the principles of design from flowers, leaves and trees or the painting of snow and hoarfrost on a still garden. Mother Earth is the curator of the beautiful art gallery we see around us, inspiring us and recalling the excitement of our childhood as we observe how the sunlight, rain and wind change the colours, textures and reflectiveness of our surrounding environment.
The outdoor garden is an inspirational medium that allows us to share space with our own artistic creations. Although it is always wise to carefully select space for plants, depending on their light and moisture requirements, there are only your own rules regarding the placement of a piece of art in your garden. Whether it is a sculpture, mirror, or a grouping of glass ornaments, think about whether you want a mix of colour, clean lines or a potpourri of all colours. When contemplating the location of an art piece, look at the site as a whole rather than its separate parts. How do you want your garden to relate to your senses? Should it be a reflection of your lifestyle or taste in art, or do you want to make the garden itself a place of reflection? Or a place where you can have adventures with your children?
The addition of art to a garden can enhance its beauty throughout the year. In my garden, I have glass-on-glass mosaics that are inset into a fence as well as into a hot tub surround and suspended from hanging plant hooks. Fairy balls in the trees with fairies flying about, Pique Assiette framed mirrors and patterned pebbles help to create a sense of whimsy. You can create beautiful colour zones and add light to areas where shade rules. The addition of lighting behind clear or stained-glass windows creates an amazing ambience on summer nights. Imagine, in winter, looking out on your garden after a snowstorm and seeing the many hues of a rainbow reflected in a beautiful stained-glass window set outdoors in your garden or on a fence. The effect can be amazing -- almost as beautiful as when flowers are in bloom.
Mosaic art, which has been used in some of the most beautiful gardens in the world, lends itself well to an outdoor environment because it is a solid, versatile and reflective type of medium. Old windows with stained glass creations make a beautiful addition to the many parts of a garden. Clear outdoor adhesives and a thorough grouting job are essential for producing a piece of art that will withstand all of our seasons. Three-dimensional pieces such as chairs, staircases, statues, a rocking horse or a planter add texture, colour, structure and durability to your garden art. Mosaics can make a beautiful focus point or a fabulous backdrop for gardens.
Mosaics set in old kitchen cupboards are inexpensive artwork that also can live outside all year. You can make your own designs out of stained glass, outdoor tile, stone, china and/or tempered glass. You must always remember to seal all sides of your mosaic to protect against the elements. Mosaics can be used to create a permanent memory of a loved one. Incorporating Grandma's old china into an outdoor mirror or as part of a vintage chair keeps her memory alive. Using wheeled mosaic nippers allows you to keep china patterns intact.
The various colours and sizes of river rock can make an amazing patio or walkway. Stone can be cut with a mosaic hammer and hardie, tiles can be trimmed with tile nippers and stained glass can be trimmed with wheeled nippers. If you are breaking tiles, you should try to find tiles that have the same depth -- it is easier to grout a level surface.
I invite you to visit the mosaic mural project at the corner of Logan Avenue and Main Street this summer, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in the St. James area, I recently completed a project with the teachers and children of Strathmillan School. It is the Hands to Heart program, in which children in grades 1, 2 and 3 made mosaic hands and placed them on five large hearts to show people entering their school how much they care about each other. It is located in the entryway of the school and is visible from the street.
Beyond gnomes
VIRTUALLY every garden I visited this summer featured some sort of interesting art -- vintage chairs doubling as plant stands, elaborate mirrors on fences, gorgeous and not-so-gorgeous sculpture and any number of treasured items given a new life as a focal point in the garden. Self-expression is no longer limited to gargoyles, gnomes or dreamy cherubs. Instead, stunning and unique pieces are taking their place amongst the perennials.
In today's article, talented mosaic artist Ursula Neufeld shares some pointers on creating lasting pieces for the garden.
August is the time of year when gardeners begin to analyze which plants worked and which ones won't be invited back. In next week's article, William Dowie, an environmental management consultant, shares his recommendations for backyard biodiversity with a list of hardy, native wildflowers, shrubs and trees.
