Growing the Art

The big spaces in the valley call for big art works, but with no training in the arts it is difficult at times to create artwork that does justice to what I see and experience.  But it is still up to me and the creative juices to see the possibilities then create something.  I have talked about growing artwork in the desert previously and I finally got this years yucca stems that had been trained and shaped, harvested.  This multi-year project, like the landscape restoration, takes time and patience to see any results and it is pleasing when an idea works and adds to the ambiance of this high desert valley in New Mexico.

Spanning a period of 6 months the photographs below are of a single yucca stem that was persuaded to circularize, with bailing wire, while it was growing.  After blooming a cactus wren found the shape attractive and built a nest within the circularized stem.  Now abandoned, the finished stem was harvested and placed with others as another stay in the fence line at the entrance to the Painted Pony Resort.  While other yucca stems did not turn out as well their curving stems will also be added to the fence line with the idea of creating an entrance area that is inviting to guests after their drive to reach the estate, as well as holding the fence wire in place.

Yucca stem in training.

Trained yucca stem in bloom

The same yucca stem after drying and ready for harvest.

Yucca stem fence stay.