Nest building

It was long over due, but I had to try to make some kind of inspired studio corner to work indoors. I had begun a makeshift library, suspended some art pieces, but never really had a place to work. I have been editing on laptop and working in the field, but everyone who knows me knows that I am a great builder/reconstruct-er/salvage-r. Today was my day. Now or never. I built an ever so tiny workspace by the window. My painted card table wedged into the tiny "Manhattan apartment" corner. Two separate neighbors had discarded their tropical plants. I quickly hauled the tree home stuck the six footer in the shower and allowed it to be the towering plant on the table. I laughed as I treated it like a rare tree specimine in the urban jungle, while two years ago I hacked at this same variety with a machette. Life is funny that way.
Another neighbor gave me perfect natural elements like a piece of fan coral that she found washed up in the Caribbean, two small carved frames from China, and the very same Indonesian travel guide that my Mom had wanted, so I had relinquished it to her years ago, though I loved it so. My neighbor down the street is uprooting, ready to travel again, while I settle a bit. I walked around in the beautiful breezy night both exhausted and relieved that I had created this mini studio, an in the process found 4, 7 foot long birch saplings, cut, cleaned and dried. Someones decorating project discarded. Beautiful.

What are the odds that all of Manhattan would decide to discard natural objects that work so perfectly with my art and my inspiration. The saplings will be a part of my sculpture "forest" that I recently transported from Switzerland. It is the piece that has five long strands of wooden thread spools that wind up towards the ceiling. I had to leave the critical piece behind for now, the curved piece of bamboo that is the critical central element. The saplings would make it a different, but still interesting work. For now they form a tee pee headboard for me. All the found pieces fit together so nicely creating an interior jungle of sorts. chucked full of art like some eco cabin. Miyoko-san gasped as she entered my city jungle. Plants and branches intermix with art and rainbows from my chandelier. If this doesn't get me working...I have no excuse. Will post some studio snaps soon.