Over 60 art lovers have stepped up to fully fund Sonoma-County-based Sculptural Landscape Designer, Suzanne Biaggi's Kickstarter campaign to complete an innovative new public garden at Cornerstone, in Sonoma.
In partnership with Sonoma Ecology Center, considerable work was already underway over at Cornerstone when the internationally recognized artist began to seek funding for the project's structural elements.
Biaggi, whose Ecology of Place for Phil Biaggi, celebrates her late brother, represents what she is most passionate about and what inspires her: "It highlights the importance of ecological balance to the future of our planet; honors the memory of my brother Phil; provides a place for discovery and contemplation; educates, by example, local restoration of native habitats; and employs universal design allowing the wheel chair experience to be same as the walking one."
The project is also about restoring what was originally there – wetlands, sometimes covered by shells washed up during high tide."We have already excavated for the wetlands, roughed out the path and have created the runnel (ribbon of water) that will border and cross the path as it meanders through the garden," says Biaggi.
It's also about what is here now –vineyards, symbolized by sculptural vines created from aluminum and steel wire. "The ever present wind can be seen in the patterns it creates as it passes over sculptural vineyards and activates a sound element – the abstracted voices of my brother Phil overlaid with Neil young -his favorite musician," says Biaggi.
Inspired by Kickstarter support for Sonoma County artist Ricky Watts' highly successful recent Phoenix Theater mural project, Biaggi set about her own campaign to complete her intricate vision for the latest installation at Cornerstone gardens.
Backers will be invited to meet the artist at the Garden's preview party in July. Other incentives included private consultation time with Cornerstone Head Horticulturalist, Dawn Smith and the artist; limited edition 14x21 glicee signed and numbered print of Biaggi’s conceptual collage/drawing of the project.





