Julie Rivera
"Garden Paths"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
This is my imaginary Japanese-style garden. I incorporated some of the aesthetic, symbolic, sensory and spiritual dimensions of a traditional Japanese garden into my piece. Rocks, plants and water; an active engagement with nature; asymmetry; simple groupings; stepping stones (that dictate movement along the path); stones representing three forces: horizontal, vertical and diagonal (heaven, earth and man); a sekimori ishi (boundary-guard stone). These principles grounded my vision for this work. I invite you to explore this space.
We are so fortunate to have a Japanese Garden designed by Kōichi Kawana at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Enjoy!
The base was constructed from recycled foam and florists’ bricks. Silk and linen were printed with botanicals, natural dyes, and indigo, and embroidered with hand-dyed cotton and silk threads. Natural stones were collected from the shore of Lake Michigan.