Landscape Designer J.C. Stahl of The Poetics of Space in Chatham, MA, uses his experience in art to marvelous effect in the landscape. An art and theater major at Dartmouth College, he spent a season with the Southwest ballet, learned to weld and make works of art, and went on to a master's program in landscape architecture. Now, he says, "I use dance as the metaphor to describe the experience of moving through a space that functions as a work of art."
The living work of art shown here is Namaste, a lovely garden we visited earlier this summer in Chatham. For JC, earth and stone are materials for sculpture plantsare akin to paint, and the canvas is the bare landscape. The garden is punctuated by plants of carefully contrasting colors, many with yellow-hued
leaves or needles.
The garden is Asian inspired, in keeping with the philosophy of the clients, who are yoga practitioners and familiar with oriental gardens. There's a small stream that spills over artfully placed stones and runs into a small pond at the edge of the patio; a
vertical sculpture of a woman is set off by vertical conifers and a wide expanse of lawn; the large purple flowers of a
clematis are echoed in a nearby smoke
tree and several japanese maples.
In the front of the house, JC fashioned a striking modern sculpture with granite stones from the Charles Street jail. It's set in a circle of gravel and surrounded by shade plants that ground it to the landscape and integrate it into the front yard.
(click on images for larger view)
Oriental gardens are so beautiful.I will become a yoga practitioner,if I have to,but will have such a garden in my home:)
Posted by: steven davies | August 17, 2007 at 05:22 PM
What a beautiful garden this is - it is possible to feel the movement that the designer was wanting to achieve. I love the sculpture with granite stones.
You have a lovely blog ... I am subscribed to it and love catching up with your writing.
Posted by: kate | August 16, 2007 at 03:20 PM