Patrick Dougherty Support Letter Katie Ziglar

June 10, 2020

Dear Jurors of the North Carolina Award,

I am honored to have the opportunity to write in support of Patrick Dougherty's nomination for the North Carolina Award. As a unique creative voice in our state with the ability to bring art to the masses worldwide, he is surely worthy of it.

Patrick Dougherty says he “paints with sticks.” His unique approach to his art sets him apart from all other creators with whom I am familiar. Using only sticks he creates large-scale, charming, whimsical, alluring sculptures reminiscent of chapels, palaces, masks, vases, human figures and other shapes that irresistibly lure the lucky visitors who come upon them to explore and interact. His work is utterly magical.

As important as his art is his engagement with the communities where he is working (frequently in North Carolina, nationally and internationally). Like the Pied Piper, with his gentle personality and strong sense of purpose, he attracts dozens and dozens of volunteers who follow him in harvesting the many truckloads of sticks he will need for a project. Then he deploys this good-willed amateur army in helping him weave the pliable sticks around his frames. The pride of those who have a hand in realizing one of his installations is palpable.

When I arrived at the Ackland Art Museum in July 2016, I sought a meeting with Patrick – a University of North Carolina MFA alumni – as soon as possible. I knew it was a longshot, but I hoped he might be available at some time in the distant future to work his magic on the outdoor terraces of the Ackland and help us pull passersby from the sidewalk up to explore his charming creation. What luck it was to discover that October of 2017 had just opened up on his calendar – he only takes on about nine projects a year!

Patrick studied our collection and was inspired by a ceramic water vessel from ancient Persia in the shape of an animal for his Ackland sculptures. With the help of volunteer platoons, he proceeded to make five over-sized pitchers, each with its own orientation and topped by a different animal's head.

Public reaction was a delight to witness. Children of all ages wove around and inside the vessels, playing hide-and-seek, taking photographs and enjoying the

changing qualities of light from inside to outside as the sun moved over the course of the day. My favorite (and fairly frequent) sight was of passengers hanging out of car windows to snap a picture!

He truly transformed our space in front of the rather too staid Ackland building with magic and wonder. He also transformed the affect and feelings of visitors to the museum who inevitably came into the lobby happy that they had just interacted with Patrick's unique vision. Those fortunate enough to attend his artist's talk at the Ackland were mesmerized by his story of himself as a young artist looking for, and finally finding, his unique medium.

It was a sad day for the community of Chapel Hill when, after the normal course of their lifetimes, the stick sculptures had to be taken down.

I know of Patrick's genius if only because I still frequently meet people who sometimes seem to know little about the Ackland, but remember Step Right Up, his beautiful display on our terrace.

Thank you for your consideration of this special man, who does North Carolina proud everywhere he goes. I am happy to be of any additional help you might need.

Sincerely,

[[SCAN_REGION_2_450_140_490_340|Handwritten signature of Katie M. Ziglar]]
Katie M. Ziglar
Director