I stumbled across Pamela welding in her driveway on one of my “Strolls” through Hudson’s Bayou!  Who is this artist with amazing sculptures embedded in her garden?  Please enjoy my conversation with Pamela and a look see…

 

Pamela has been an artist since she “could pick up a crayon” and has a special interest in metal working, hence her welding in the front yard!   Media includes metal, wood, resin, paint, PVC, found objects and space itself. She comes from a long line of artists; her father is a fine artist and a family member is a film maker.  She has been featured in many magazines, is a juried artist and presently is represented by Mara Art Studio Gallery located at 76 South Palm Ave.  Both Pamela and her dad, Richard Olin, also a Sarasota resident and artist are co-featured at a Plymouth Harbor showing entitled: Expressions of Experience: Two generations/two perspectives.  This show runs from January 4-February 29th.  

 

The excitement lies in her use of the human body in many of her sculptures. Some of the eye-catching front yard sculptures include the colorful Can-Can dancer “laugh”, an organic pair of geometric metal towers, and a wonderful natural rusted man supporting the “world” (The Voice that Makes) is surrounded by areca palm bases. Pitch apple (Clusia), both large and small leaf; add little maintenance to the front yard. Perennial peanut provides a no-maintenance ground cover.

 

A paved walk on the left side of the home leads directly to SMH; a great place to walk Pamela and Greg Kaplan’s dog, Lily.  The fenced yard gives both privacy and Lily a place to cavort and enthusiastically welcome guests.

 

An even greater surprise is the back yard.  Tillandsias and Orchids abound-her pride and joy-an entire wall of Orchids each one sporting a zoo animal! Just a few can be seen in the article.  Noah’s Ark is alive and well on this lanai wall!  Hand-made metal and wicker planters softened by embedded fabric house her organic displays of flourishing Tillandsias.  A prolific display of dendrobium orchids were in bloom for us to enjoy.  Winter in Sarasota affords a twenty degree day to night temperature change which promotes Orchid blooming! With this year’s draught make sure your orchids have green roots and that leaves and bulbous stems do not show puckering indicative of dehydration.  Soaking plant roots in a bucket for 20 minutes, or misting roots prolifically during severe drought to keep them from dying.  Forget the ice-cube “trick”! Benign neglect usually adds to ease of maintenance of these plants. Remember most varieties like highly filtered light…no bright sun.

 

The excitement persists in the container garden; always a great welcome in a lanai since the pots can be moved as the seasonal angle of the sun changes assuring “the right plant in the right place”.  A Myer Lemon is almost ready for harvest”; a beautiful citronella plant’s oils deters mosquitos and a curly (Polyscias Guilfoylei) Blackie Aralia was grown from a friend’s cutting. Usually a houseplant, these Asian and South American plant varieties thrives in Sarasota’s humid climate.   An old man cactus was my favorite with its white beard. See a close up in this article.

 

An antique Tibetan bell and a Kokopelli dancing sculpture surrounded by scrap colored glass “blobs” from West Virginia add interest.  My favorite was a “picture frame garden” reclaiming wood; sanded small picture frames “planted” in soil treated with growth/rooting hormone allow the raw wood to root in a pot! Can’t wait to see if this indeed works…try it and let me know!

 

Pamela’s artistic goal is to” evokes emotion, ignite introspection, and connects individuals across diverse experiences.”  Indeed my afternoon with Pamela did just that! We are going to miss Pamela and Greg-outgrowing her artist needs they are moving some six miles away to have both a large welding area and ground floor studio.  Looking for an amazing home in Southside Village….this may be your chance.  Stroll down Osprey, make a right and look see!

(847) 209-0827