Art – Page 37 – Ellis Hollow

Living sculpture conference, botanical illustration course

philodendron flower

A couple of shameless plugs. (Full disclosure: I work in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, sponsor of these programs.)

Botanical illustration online course. – A great way to learn how to enjoy your plants even more by rendering them in pen and ink. Starts May 26. Enrollment limited to 20 people.

Living sculpture conference. Ithaca, N.Y. July 22. Hands on opportunity to learn how to create art from plants, including sod sculpture, woven branch, tabletop herbal topiary, tree sculpture, ephemeral earth art, mowing patterns, veggie art and more.

Healing quilts

I got an nice note from quilt artist Lisa Ellis (website | blog) today to let me know that a quilt she made inspired by a pretty mediocre picture I snapped is currently on display at the University of Michigan, and will hang permanently in the bone marrow transplant ward there.

Find more floral and other inspirational quilts at the Healing Quilts in Medicine and Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends websites, as well as Lisa’s website and blog.

Iconic bridge

Son Nathan is on a month-long adventure in China. He posted this iconic bridge picture on his Facebook page. I’m sure I’ve seen it before. But what’s up with that firetower-like structure in the background.

bridge in China

Melon sculptures

Nice collection of melon sculptures via another one of my favorite eyecandy sites, Environmental Graffiti.

2009 Dragon Day

2009 Dragon Day One of the rites of early spring here is Dragon Day on the Cornell Campus. Every year, on the Friday before spring break, first year architecture students create and parade a dragon across campus, to be met by a phoenix constructed by engineering students.

In the past, the dragon was ceremoniously burned on the Arts Quad. This year, in order to comply with environmental regulations limiting open burning to wood and agricultural wastes — the dragon was spared the pyre. Instead a wood and straw nest was offered up to the gods.

I’m fond of Dragon Day not just because it’s a harbinger of spring, but because it gives the students a bit of a creative outlet mid-semester: According to the Cornell Chronicle, “Dozens of costumed student revelers — in outfits including orange highway cones, the bunny from “Donnie Darko,” and a lithe reptilian figure in head-to-toe green Spandex” joined the parade.

Wikiepedia has some great images of Dragon Days past, going back to the ’20s. University Photo pulled together a video montage that captures the spirit of this year’s event. Below are some screen captures from the Cornell.edu website celebrating recent Dragon Days.