Compost as Muse

Born in New York, New York, 17 February 1939 John Pfahl has been creating photographs for the past 30 years that in my opinion illustrate the potential and fragility of nature. Pfahl's portfolio includes photograph series with titles such as Extreme Horticulture, Altered landscapes and Arcadia Revisited. Although more light hearted than his other works, for me "The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile" offers intimacy and insight into the artist's life and work.

The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile

"My compost pile, situated in a hidden corner of the garden, constantly changes with the passing months. The rich efflorescence of rotting vegetable matter creates a day book of both the memorable and mundane meals that grace my table." John Pfahl

corn and pinto beans

frozen peas

honeydew and slug

orange peels and fennel

pears

swiss chard in snow

watermelon rinds

For additional insight into Pfahl's work please visit www.johnpfahl.com

Ecologically Inspired Art - Part 3 - Lucien den Arend

The artistic development of Lucien den Arend, a Dutch sculptor and artist who takes the landscape into remarkable consideration in his environmental projects, began with painting from nature or even perhaps with the shelters he made himself of flexible willow rods as a child.

Unlike town and open space planners, den Arend does not seek to create interesting or beneficial effects with the natural elements he uses; rather his main concern is with evoking the unexpected, and thus he gives hills, shrub plantings, reservoirs and canals the form of curves, semicircles, squares, lines and grids an exercise in practical geometry.
Extract from Topos European Landscape Magazine

Homage to El Lissitzky
Lelystad Flevo Polder the Netherlands






Pieter Janszoon Saenredam Project
Barendrecht Holland




Island x-ing
Continuation of the Walburg project into the Volgerlanden






Farel
Farel School Netherlands






The Iron Pollard
Hardinxveld Giessendam Holland






den Arend's Gothic 2
Penttilä Open Air Museum Finland

For more information please visit www.denarend.com and the Penttilä Open Air Museum at www.paom.ws

Ecologically Inspired Art - Part 2 Public Farm 1

One of the goals of my blog is to engage, inspire and inform people of their dependence to the land. For me, agriculture in the urban environment serves as an important reminder of the lost connection between advanced civilization and nature. Reinforcing this connection is Public Farm 1; a project designed by Work Architecture Company for MoMA and P.S.1's Young Architects Program.

proposal drawings

project context

P.F.1 will combine playful programs with educational ones, creating a sense of community around the shared experience of growing food. Bringing sustainable construction together with sustainable agriculture, P.F.1 is built entirely of recyclable materials, is 100% solar-powered and utilizes rain collection for irrigation.

ground level view

irrigation

view from museum

picking skirt

WORKac continues to develop architectural and urban planning projects that engage culture and consciousness, nature and artificiality, surrealism and pragmatism. Please visit the P.F.1 website for more information.

Welcome to the christian barnard landscape studio blog

About

The christian barnard landscape studio is a professional landscape and exterior design studio located in Victoria BC, Canada. Our design work explores the connection between art, ecology and architecture with the natural and created landscape. Our goal is to form spaces that breathe new spirit into the existing context.

The Blog

Dedicated to the promotion and consideration of local detail, including vegetative and human made features, art and culture. The goal is to keep you informed and entertained on important subjects to do with the growing landscape movement and lifestyle that surrounds it. You will be kept on top of cutting edge projects, news, products and musings from great minds. Please feel free to leave suggestions and comments. Enjoy!