by Connie Oswald Stofko
Buy it from an artist. Commission something that fits in with the theme of your garden. Or make it yourself.
As you’re planning next year’s garden, consider integrating art into your landscape.
Buy garden art
Beth and Brian Kreutzer of Cheektowaga, who share their landscape on Open Gardens, happily display a metal sculpture by Mike O of Yartworks titled “Mousetrap.”
“I bought it at one of the first Buffalo Style Garden Art Sales,” Beth said.
They also have a second sculpture by Mike O called “Birds Flying Up,” which reminds them of airplanes.
“That’s appropriate since we live by the airport,” she said.
Order garden art
Jim Bardot of Amherst has seven gardens in his large front yard and most of the beds show the influence of the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
To tie into the Wright theme, Bardot ordered a welcome sign with his house number that is done in a font designed by Wright.
See more views of Bardot’s gardens here and see how statues and negative space can add to your garden.
Make your own garden art
Jim Charlier of Buffalo took inspiration from the artist Louise Nevelson when he created this black, three-dimensional collage on his fence. It includes two water features, one at each end. Buffalo artist Bruce Marzahn created something similar several years ago.
See Charlier’s creativity in the most famous shed in the world.
Charlier, with Sally Cunningham, wrote the book Buffalo-Style Gardens.
Hi Meredith, I agree! There is so much garden art used in Western New York. Thanks for your suggestions.
You could probably feature garden art every newsletter and never run out! It’s nice to have a constant in the garden while flowering plants are here so briefly! Among my favorites are birdbaths, gargoyle statues, copper and glass work by David Cyr and hypertufa and cement garden art by Anne Brierley.
Hi Jim, I made an assumption because your wall reminded me so much of what I saw in Bruce Marzahn’s landscape. Thank you for setting me straight and for introducing us to Louise Nevelson. Her work is inspiring!
I actually didn’t take inspiration from Bruce Marzahn. The wall art is an ode to Louise Nevelson. I suppose Bruce’s was too!
https://www.google.com/search?q=Louise+Nevelson&sxsrf=ALiCzsZ1MCIeVRrKm0TN0TAbIA3cYDf9tg:1671121456674&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiiwLTGhPz7AhVZElkFHcjNBQ4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1219&bih=1257&dpr=2