Canopy Understories

media release: The Madison Public Art Project is pleased to present Canopy Understories, a commissioned sculpture series from two local Madison based artists, and UW alumni. The public is invited to meet the artists who will give a brief artist talk at the sculpture unveiling ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, at 1:00pm in collaboration with the UW-Madison Arboretum. Admission to the grounds is free. All are welcome.

Canopy Understories is a sculpture series featuring two site-specific installations. The three Samara Flight sculptures are installed as a linear mobile recreating the winged seed pods, (or samaras) of Wisconsin’s state tree, the sugar maple (Acer saccharinum). Sculpted in lightweight materials used by the aviation industry and held aloft by a metallic cable and hardware developed for rock climbing, this trio of wind-activated kinetic sculptures mimics the natural dispersal mechanism maple trees use. The open lattice of the samara sculptures’ wing veins spin and twirl in the wind, illustrating a natural process in color and motion. The sculptures are filled with wonderful detail and texture showing a high level of artistic skill.

The Mayapple Canopy sculpture, unveiling later this April, takes a larger-than-life look at the Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a species native to Wisconsin. Mayapples grow from a creeping root, with one or two umbrella-like leaves per stem. Only stems with two leaves will flower, to produce an intensely sour yellow fruit. Unripe fruit, like the rest of the plant, contains podophyllotoxin, a toxic chemical sometimes used in chemotherapy. The fruit is edible once fully ripened. Such poisons evolved in plants to discourage animals from eating them. The sculpture functions during the day as a shade canopy, its shadow tracing a large arc on the ground like a sundial. It also stores energy from the sun, like photosynthesis in living plants. But instead of using that energy for plant growth and reproduction, it powers the LED-illuminated blown glass fruit after sunset. Aluminum does not exist in the form of a metal in nature. It can be melted and re-melted, and, like components of living organisms, is easily recycled.

Laura Richards and William Grant Turnbull artist statement reads; “we forge monuments to the sometimes-overlooked beauty of every site’s local flora and fauna. Researching a venue’s layered historical, cultural, and functional contexts helps us select native species that symbolically articulate our aesthetic sense of that place.”

Biomimetics is a contemporary design movement, focused on applying the lessons of nature to human problems. While human technologies exacerbate many of the environmental challenges we face today, we can also creatively adapt our knowledge to addressing these challenges. The artists of Canopy Understories hope this project will spark new ideas and alter the viewers’

perspective of both nature and technology. The Madison-based artists Richards and Turnbull, both UW graduates, are inspired by nature. They illuminate how the tools and technology of the modern world can be more sustainable. The installation seeks to question how the things people build can be made more efficiently, sustainably, and with more grace and style.

The artistry of these sculptures will dazzle and delight visitors of all ages. “This is such an exciting project, and the work is extraordinary” said Jillian Talarczyk, the president of the Madison Public Art Project. “I hope visiting the Canopy Understories sculptures in this setting will inspire people to look up, reflect, and reconnect with nature. I think the artists larger than life approach will reveal new possibilities for the viewer and energize the Arboretum we all know and love in exciting new ways.”

“We are thrilled that Arboretum visitors will be able to experience the Canopy Understories sculptures in all four seasons, observing the very seasonal phenomena represented throughout an entire year. This exhibit provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with public art in one of Wisconsin’s most loved outdoor public spaces”, notes Arboretum Director Karen Oberhauser.

Garden curator David Stevens adds “I love the idea of displaying unique artistic interpretations of Wisconsin native flora within the Longenecker collection. Not only will they add year-round interest, but I believe they will also help visitors better appreciate the wonders of the natural world around them.”

The Canopy Understories sculptures will be on view through April 2023 and can be enjoyed in all seasons for the upcoming year. Guests of the Arboretum will be able to view the sculptures within the natural landscape. We welcome children and adults of all ages. Visitors can scan the QR codes at the site for additional educational learning materials. Materials for crayon art rubbing can be downloaded, or guests can pick up fliers or check out art backpacks in the Arboretum Visitor Center.