Austin artist Jamie Spinello’s enchanting sculpture “Allochory”—named for a method of seed dispersal—was inspired by the triadic seed pod of the Red Yucca, a native plant of Central and West Texas. “I created this sculpture as homage to humans dedicated to the proliferation of native Texas plants in our cityscapes and home gardens,” says Spinello.
Texas has over 5,000 species of native plants. Because of its size and geography, it is one of the most biologically diverse states, with forests, deserts, mountains, hills, prairies, and coastal plains. Native plants are drought-tolerant, naturally conserving our precious water resources. They provide habitat and food for birds, butterflies, bees, and other wildlife and don’t need special pampering or fertilizing. Natives are natural to their ecosystem and help us maintain biological diversity. [Native Plant Society of Texas]
Photo courtesy of Kolanowski Studio
Jamie Spinello, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. She received her BFA in both graphic design and painting from the University of Southern Mississippi and M.F.A. in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is a recipient of San Francisco Arts Foundation’s Murphy Cadogan Fellowship, the San Francisco Art Institute M.F.A. Fellowship, and the Laurel Art League Scholarship. Spinello has participated in City of Austin’s Art in Public Places TEMPO Program, Hampton Hill and Milwood Libraries, Austin, LSU Museum of Art, Irene Pennington Sculpture Garden, Baton Rouge, AIPP Sculpture Exhibit, Rendon Park, Austin, and Femme Abstract Show, Austin. Spinello lives in Austin and works in aluminum, bronze, silver, ceramics, and glass from her home studio.
“Allochory” sits naturally among the Heights Boulevard esplanade’s park-like setting (in the 800 block) and in a neighborhood that values the importance of native Texas plants—as experienced when you visit or drive by the bustling Buchanan’s Native Plants, New Roots Nursery, Another Place in Time, or Joshua’s Native Plants on any given day.
Photo courtesy of Kolanowski Studio
This bright, graceful, and circumspect stainless steel sculpture is offered for sale by the artist at $14,000, and Spinello and all True North artists will generously donate 20% of any sales back to the sculpture project.
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Photo courtesy of Kolanowski Studio
