FRANK exhibit embraces trees’ natural beauty

In 1967, environmental sculptor Patrick Dougherty graduated from UNC with an English degree. Though he currently travels across the globe creating award-winning sculptures out of saplings, he continues to call Chapel Hill home.

“Just living here with UNC on the periphery means you have a huge advantage to an intellectual life that most communities don’t have,” Dougherty said. “It’s a community of people who love to be part of the world of ideas.”

Dougherty will return to Franklin Street on Friday to take part in “Tree: Witness to Life,” an ongoing exhibition at FRANK Gallery.

The exhibition opened July 8 and will run until Sept. 7. It displays pieces by FRANK artists related to the value of the tree.

Though guest artists are often invited to be part of exhibitions at FRANK, Dougherty is the only one featured in “Tree: Witness to Life” who is not a FRANK artist.

“We are perpetuating our theme through him,” said Nerys Levy, a FRANK artist and co-chairwoman of the exhibit. “He is amplifying our theme, and we are amplifying the depth of his work through our show. It’s symmetrical.”

“Bending Sticks,” a documentary on Dougherty’s art, will be shown at the Varsity Theatre Friday. After the screening, a reception will be held at FRANK Gallery, where Dougherty will be available for questions.

Dougherty said he took no part in the making of the documentary other than being the subject matter. He said the film’s producers followed him for six months as he completed projects.

“They simply built the kind of film that they wanted, and it seems like it’s done fairly well, and I’m happy with it,” Dougherty said.

Levy said she hopes the screening at the Varsity, the only viewing of the film in Chapel Hill, will give a voice to Dougherty’s work. She said the film shows Dougherty’s capacity to create sculptures all over the world that resonate with and complement the sites where they are on display.

Though the exhibit showcases many different artistic mediums, FRANK Gallery manager Torey Mishoe said “Tree: Witness to Life” specifically highlights the pieces of FRANK woodworkers.

“We wanted to showcase some of our amazing woodworkers because furniture in an art gallery can easily get overlooked because you’re looking at the walls more than anything,” Mishoe said.

Levy said the tree is the symbolic form of life.

“The tree is a very important part of everybody’s life — from the beauty of it, to the shelter, to the utilitarian aspect,” she said.

Dougherty said the context for his art has altered over time. When he started his work with saplings, he said he chose that material largely because it was very accessible — he could easily find it along the roads of North Carolina where maintenance crews had cut down trees. But the environmental movement has changed the conversation about all things natural.

“I started seeing my material in a really different way,” Dougherty said.

“I started seeing how people reacted to it and what their issues were, and it helped me and led me through my own feelings about the environment. My work today is not beat-you-on-the-head environment, but it’s work that reminds you of all aspects of the natural world.”

Contact the desk editor at  arts@dailytarheel.com.