7 apples: New garden art by Durand Van Doren

Last May, I posted about a fabulous floral gate installed by blacksmith/metal artist Durand Van Doren in Minns Garden outside my office. Today, he finished up the job installing two more gates, one with an apple theme.

The arch echoes the living apple arches in the garden …

applegate

Close observers will notice seven famous apples among the branches. The first needs no introduction. Maybe you can guess the others?
applegate

There’s the apple for the teacher, complete with bookworm.
applegate

William Tell’s apple …
applegate

Sleeping Beauty’s poison apple …
applegate

Newton’s apple (which I wish Durand had suspended halfway to the ground) …
applegate

Johnny Appleseed’s apple with seeds exposed …
applegate

And for our downstate friends, The Big Apple.
applegate

Durand also worked in anatomically correct details of different life stages including flowers …
applegate

And immature fruit …
applegate

Watching Durand and his competent crew at work was a lot of fun. Durand cut away the transport frame …
applegate

The crew manuvered the arch into place …
applegate

And added finishing touches.
applegate

Even the ground plate has artsy details.
applegate

There’s lots of bench space at Minns Garden. Stop by and enjoy the flowers, the trees and Durand’s gates.
applegate

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

10 thoughts on “7 apples: New garden art by Durand Van Doren”

  1. I left early yesterday for Roch going in the other direction so I missed it! I love those arches, and now this one, too. Can’t wait to see it up close.

  2. I’ve always loved gates. The look, the opening and the going through and closing behind. So many wonderful details to take in. Just beautiful.

  3. I just came across your website. I must say, I love the gate! But when I scrolled down and saw Durand Van Doren’s applied label…it just about took my breath away! So seldom do I see “Apple Gate”! What a woderful work of art. I hope one day to make it to your city to see it for myself!
    Sincerely,
    Avery Ann Applegate

  4. What lovely sculpture! OK, a little side story. I attended a seminar quite a few years ago during which we each were asked to come up with something that would show us to be a unique historical character. I stuck an arrow through an apple and then fastened the apple to my head with the arrow inserted in a front to back direction. Everyone thought I was William Tell! Ah, not so! I was William Tell’s son.

Comments are closed.