Floral Art Installation Inspired by the Emotion and Gesture of a Wind Storm

If you're a bit in a rut and looking to be seriously wow-ed these days, the new work of the artists of Waterlilypond is definitely worth visiting. Another colorful and impressive installation by the artist duo. Currently on view at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona through March 29th, "Wind" is a large colorful display of desert materials combined with local plants. Being the state-of-the-art artists they are, Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz make sure that you can either visit the art installation on-site or online - which is nothing like being there in person but comes close.

Botanical Garden Art Installation Titled Wind

This installation is the first of the three-part series Wind-Water-Earth at the Desert Botanical Garden. 'Wind' is inspired by the gesture and emotion of tumultuous winds and dust storms that move across the desert landscape of Arizona. For this site-specific installation, the team of Waterlillypond led by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz decided to feature local plant materials found in the desert.

"We collected dried agave, cactus, yucca, cholla, palo verde, creosote branches, and tumbleweeds. Then transformed the dried organic materials by adding vivid color and brilliant gold, highlighting and reimagining the shapes and textures of the desert. Other materials include manzanita, dry palm leaves and live bromeliad plants."

A Structure of Wild Gestural Movements

The foundation for the structure of three 12-foot (4m) diameter copper rings is cleverly engineered and buried so that the rings appear to roll effortlessly on the surface of the plaza. The composition of natural materials atop of it creating wild, gestural movements as if being picked up and carried by the wind. The installation has been open since January 19th and enjoyed by the visitors taking photos and wondering between the rings to observe the hidden “treasures” overhead. There have been dance performances and wedding portraits taken around the piece. Birds also seem to be attracted to its bright colors landing on top of the branches.

The Making Of Wind

Two videos show the artwork of Waterlilypond at the Desert Botanical Garden. Take a close look at the 'making of' and enjoy a fantastic birds-eye view of the floral installation.

By the Numbers

16 feet tall 6000 lb steel structure 200 creosote and palo verde branches 50 tumbleweeds 60 manzanita branches 30 dry desert plant specimen 50 bromeliad plants