Giant Mushrooms
Event-specific environmental art installation – Spring Daze Arts Festival & Quarter Days Celebrations
- Completion Date: June 2018 – March 2025
- Media: Stretch knit fabric, PVC pipe, metal stakes and lighting system
- Location: Fred G. Bond Metro Park, Cary, NC and Legacyworks Studio, Warrenton, NC
- Client: Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
- Dimensions: Seven mushrooms ranging in size between 11 ft and 8 ft (H) x 8 and 6 ft (Dia.)
- Budget: $510 and donated volunteer support from family and friends
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The seven mushrooms were installed along the pathway running between the main parking lot at boathouse and the open space floodplain parking area of Bond Park in Cary, NC for the 2018 Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. Originally created to be installed at part of the Stoneleaf+Fairycircle environmental art installation, these Giant Mushroom sculptures added liveliness to both sides of the walkway that connected the crafts booths and the parking area. Both adults and children played with the Giant Mushrooms and took photo selfies as mementos of the attendance at the event. The mushrooms were also installed on one of Cary’s downtown parks to enliven a community group event.
As these Giant Mushrooms as part of Stoneleaf+Fairycircle were replaced with permanent sculptures made from Sunbrella fabric in 2021, the retired mushrooms did continue their existence as part of the installation at Legacyworks Studios for Quarter Days events where invited guests celebrated the annual solstices and equinox four time per year. Internal lighting was installed to active the mushrooms and to enliven the celebratory space during nighttime hours.
Gallery
"My sculptural environments are aesthetically pleasing site-specific artworks that connect nature and culture by employing the three legacies for regenerative and sustainable design of (1) environment: natural systems, (2) education: experiential systems, and (3) engagement: cultural systems. By using a variety of art media and fabrication methods to create sculptural open spaces that are intended to support personal rejuvenation and inspiration, my sculptures provide venues for environmental learning and community celebration.”
Contact
Environment, Education, Engagement
Michael Roy Layne, Ph.D., RLA, ASLA
Environmental Sculptor • Landscape Architect • Community Artist
Studio/Workshop
135 South Main Street
Warrenton, North Carolina 27589
Office
442 S. Main Street
Warrenton, North Carolina 27589
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