American Land Art Artist builds giant nest in South Africa

[Herman en Yvonne]

Land Art Artist Jody Joyner from Tucson, Arizona, has just finished
works on a giant nest (woven of hibiscus twigs) at Soekershof; Private
Mazes & Botanical Gardens in South Africa in Robertson, Western Cape.
She was inspired by the numerous weaver bird nests in the old stretch
of the Klaas Voogds River which runs through the gardens

In the narrow meaning of the word a nest is the spot in which birds
lay their egg(s) and hatch.

In the Germanic languages it is also used as a name for a sleeping
spot or a place where two lovers please each other.

In the more natural sense of the word ‘nest’ means ‘house’. And at
home you feel yourselves at home in your own protected surroundings or
shelter. People nowadays have simply attached themselves to comfort
which modern technology offers us and that actually detaches them from
the natural surroundings.

Why then not a nest made of natural material from its own
surroundings? Simply to attach to the vicissitudes of nature and to
repair your own ecobalans?

This idea is the basis with which Land Art artist Jody Joyner from
Tucson, Arizona, USA has been playing with from the end of December
in at Soekershof; Private Mazes & Botanical Gardens in South Africa
also named Green Cathedral or South Africa.



Jody Joyner finished her work on a giant nest (woven of hibiscus
twigs) in the beginning of February 2011. With the modelling of the
nest she became inspired by the numerous weaver bird nests in the old
stretch of the Klaas Voogds River which runs through the gardens.


Joyner is on a global tour for several months. Before commencing her
job at Soekershof two months ago she was involved in Landartgenerator
in Dubai and a project in the Louvre in Paris. From South Africa she
will first fly to Australia to be involved in a project with
aboriginals and from there she will create an object with Inuit in the
North of Canada. Her assignment in South Africa was part of Land Art
project in South Africa; an initiative of Soekershof. This project is
a pure private initiative without (governmental) grants and/or
subsidies.