There are greater than 200 species of birds that inhabit the world of di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa. And soon, nature lovers may have a brand new secret spot from which to see all of them: a huge sculpture that winds through the landscape and features a hide specifically for birdwatching.
For those that have never been to di Rosa, it’s an art complex within the Carneros wine region with two indoor galleries and 217 acres of out of doors art. Think a seven-story Samuel Yates filing cabinet, a flock of hands rising from the earth, or a motorized angel flying through the air like a helicopter. These works at the moment are being joined by “Falcons and pigeons”, a monumental constructing by Philip Krohn and his organization AUXART.
The artist is currently in the process of building the sculpture – visitors are welcome to watch him at work during opening hours most Thursdays and Fridays. When it is finished in November, the sculpture is expected to be more than 147 metres long and will be set amongst the Art Institute's ancient olive trees. It is so sprawling that it is impossible to see the entire thing from one spot, and that is not the only part that cannot be seen. Hawks and Doves will include a birdwatching post where visitors can hide to watch all the many different birds (including some rare species) that flit about.
Krohn is an interdisciplinary artist and art producer who divides his time between Sonoma and Oregon. He specializes in large-scale, site-specific artworks that often incorporate sound or music, and has exhibited at the Berkeley Center for New Media, the Portland Art Museum, the Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole, and elsewhere. The artist is undertaking the Napa project as part of his residency program with di Rosa, which invites Northern California creatives to reimagine the land surrounding the art facility.
“Unlike previous residents, Krohn's work doesn’t happen within the gallery but directly on the land amidst di Rosa's historic olive grove and sculpture meadow,” said Twyla Ruby, assistant curator, in a statement. “Krohn's long-standing sculptural practice includes working with waste materials found on site. In this case, he works directly with olive tree trimmings and other materials to create a shocking architectural installation that rises and falls to the rhythm of the land, inviting visitors to interact with the deep history of this special place.”
Visitors who come to watch the artist at work are encouraged to bring picnics, as the grounds include meadows, hiking trails and a scenic lake.
Details: The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 5200 Carneros Highway, Napa. General admission tickets are $25 and are available at dirosaart.org.
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