Wood Works: Sculpture and Poetry by Howard & Mary McCoy at Adkins Arboretum

Vines twist, bristle and tumble around living trees while clusters of poems dance in the breeze in Wood Works, a show of site-specific sculptures and poetry by artists Howard and Mary McCoy. This is the artists’ 14th outdoor exhibition at Adkins Arboretum.

Created collaboratively by both artists, the sculptures are interspersed with Mary’s poems as an invitation to slow down and enjoy an intimate look at the forest. Since their first outdoor show here in 1999, the couple has created work directly inspired by the forest itself, and over the years, their methods of interacting with its trees, understory plants and creek have evolved, becoming increasingly direct and simplified.

Just as a sculpture can be site-specific, created in and for a specific place, so can poetry. Growing from many years of visiting and working in the forest, Mary’s poems explore the interconnected life of all that grows in these woods and the curious ways its natural, nurturing environment can soothe and heal the agitation of our overstimulated minds.

The only vines used to create the sculptures are Japanese honeysuckle. A species native to East Asia, it was introduced to this country in 1806 as an ornamental plant, but quickly spread, aggressively shading out and choking native shrubs and trees. To save a few of them from being smothered, the artists cut and untangled honeysuckle vines from their trunks and branches to use as the materials for these sculptures.

“It’s a real collaboration with nature,” Howard said. “The vines have their own particular curves and angles that we have to work with as we’re creating the sculptures. They’ll only twist in certain ways and that helps determine the finished work.”

This show is part of Adkins Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series highlighting regional artists whose work engages with natural themes. The Arboretum, located at 12610 Eveland Road near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely, is a 400-acre native garden and preserve offering exceptional experiences in nature.

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