Introduction

=Introduction to Nature Based Art=

The Nature-Based Sculpture Program is part of the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, located in Clemson, South Carolina. The program was started in 1995 and has grown tremendously over the years, adding more artists and more pieces of art each year. The sculptures are located in varying places of the gardens and are created by some of the top artists in the field. The program also works with Clemson University students and staff from several different disciplines including Communication Studies, Landscape Architecture, Art, Writing, and Architecture. Students have worked with the program to create the sculptures, create a website, maintain social media projects, and assist with the program's information database.

 Though the project is nationally known throughout the art community, it is one of the biggest hidden secrets in the area. Since the project began in 1995, artists such as Patrick Dougherty, Brian Rust, and Herb Parker have completed projects for the program. All of the structures are made completely of natural materials and are meant to be ephemeral art, meaning that they will evolve and disintegrate over time. It has been featured in many news and art publications such as //Southern Living// and //Smithsonian//. With the emergence of the social media as a marketing tool, the Nature-Based Sculpture Program has now launched [|Twitter], [|Facebook], [|YouTube], and [|Flickr] accounts.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden and the Nature-Based Sculpture Program have attempted to gain interest and knowledge of outsiders to help bolster the reputation locally. Due to budget cuts, funding for the program has dropped severely. However, many people put in time and effort to keep this program not only running, but running at a high level.

For more information on the Nature Based Program at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, go to the official Nature Based Art Program [|website].