Tags
Andy Cao, Cambridge MA, Chicken wire, Dumbarton Oaks, Garden, Georgetown, Harvard, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Installation art, Massachusetts, Stephen Jerrome, Swarovski, Xavier Perrot
In Georgetown, far away from Cambridge, Massachusetts, there is an institute of Harvard University called Dumbarton Oaks that is dedicated to promoting Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies through fellowships, internships, meetings, and exhibitions.
When one thinks of Harvard, chicken wire and Swarovski crystals are the last things that comes to mind. Enter Andy Cao (Loeb Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2010-11) and Xavier Perrot and their incredible creativity. They set up an art installation that is simple in execution, but nothing short of pure genius.
See for yourself:
Like a low storm cloud about to burst…
with plump, iridescent drops of rain.
Mist in the distance…
A vapor cloud of condensation hoovering above the pool.
Beautifully set against wisteria
How many crystals does it take to get this type of refraction in the sun? 10,000!
My synopsis? Love!! The dichotomy of such a rough, unrefined, rural material as chicken wire and such a highly polished, highly refractive and refined crystal isn’t apparent from a distance, but yet is just as appealing from a distance.
Source: harvard.edu and swarovski.com, photo credit: Stephen Jerrome
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This can be done at home, but please be sure that birds can either not get in at all or that they can freely fly in and out!! Birds can get caught inside!
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A Detailed House 
I love the wisteria!
This unbelievable. It is absolutely stunning. You are right that it is not something you think when you think of there. Great pictures. Thanks for shairing them.
Cynthia
I love the juxtaposition…I know, big word for me, but I think it works.
Just to let you know that I have passed the “One Lovely Blog” award on to you.
Thank you so much!! I’m honored!!
Beautiful. Reminds me somewhat of the gorgeous blown glass display by Chahuli last year. It was done outside as well (at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Nashville, TN). Different type of displays, but breathtaking–this is also. Such creativity!
When I lived in the DC area in the 1970s during my High School years, I used to skip school regularly and go to Dumbarton Oaks and read. Odd……I know.
If it looked this magical back then I would probably have never graduated due to lack of days attended.
AMAZING – thanks for sharing! Happy Monday!
Wow. Lovely!
I love this post, I reposted it on my page and credited it to you. Thank you for sharing it. I also love the garden and house books on the side. Your blog is exceptional. I enjoy you so much.
Thank you so much! I am so glad that you liked the post!! I posted my favorite books, which quite a few are a little worn from referencing so often through the years 🙂 Despite coming from the tech world, I have yet to buy an ebook…
I updated it. I did a quick post this morning and I elaborated on it this afternoon. Thanks! Looking for photos for a submission to your site. I will try to match your style.
I’m looking forward to it…and thinking about the possibilities for my children’s school! I already know where I would put it on our property (thought about a large garden chess board). How long did it take you to make?
If one could “touch” a cloud, this is exactly how I would imagine it! Brilliant!
Wow! That is really interesting. I want to make one!!! That would be a lot of work. Expensive getting even that many fake crystals.
Wow. That IS lovely.
One would be hard pressed to choose a favorite from this selection of photos. They are all gorgeous, Kearney. 🙂 Wonderful share. I love the arches. 🙂
Great post really loved the images,how truly amazing!
very clever…love the scale of the project …thank you for sharing
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How cool, awesome pics 🙂
Everyone has already said it but it bears repeating. Simply stunning! Thanks for sharing this symphony of natural and man-made beauty!
Thank you! The creativity and talent of these two is mind boggling! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for the brain storming session just to see what ideas were thrown out!!
Very interesting post. I had never heard of this place!
As a keen gardener, I would always prefer using more natural, growing features in a garden. So the installation is not for me. But it provokes responses and that is part of what art is about.
That is breathtaking. It’s always refreshing when artists are allowed complete creative freedom in an outdoor setting. The Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey is like a little paradise with outdoor installations, but unfortunately there are no clouds of crystal.
GORGEOUS!!!
Stunning!
I liked the effect from below and from the side but I am not sure liked it as seen from above. It must have looked fantastic at night. I wonder what it would have looked like in a Winter presentation? My hands ache just thinking about the instillation [+ dismantling] of all that chicken wire.
Stunning – love the rain/cloud effect! Thanks so much for sharing this … =D