HowWeBuildNests

How We Build Spirit Nests

The nests are made from tree branches that are harvested from local forests. I do this with great respect and care for the trees Therefore it is important to choose the branches and carefully cut them so that the tree is not damaged. The best branches come from the top of the tree as they are more mature, strong, and have unique spiraling shapes sculpted by wind and time. I often have to climb to the top of a tree to harvest these branches.

After I harvest the wood I use a machete to remove the leaves from the branches. I then disperse the leaves in a safe location to minimize any fire danger on the forest floor.

The branches are then loaded onto a trailer and transported to the building location, usually the Spirit Garden. I use mostly Eucalyptus wood as it is very strong and lasts longer than most other woods. There are many other kinds of wood that work just as well.

It takes approximately two and a half trailer loads of wood to create a nest that will hold eight people. This harvesting of wood usually takes four to five days with the assistance of two to three people.

At the building location, I unload the wood and separate it out by size. It is then that I begin building the nest. The process consists of fitting the puzzle of branches into a flowing form that integrates structural integrity with artistic flow . I use tension by bending the wood and counter sunk screws that are virtually invisible to ensure a strong structure.

Once the nest gets to a certain size I roll the nest onto my trailer.

This is a half nest you see. I load the nest at this stage because the completed nest is too heavy for me to lift or roll without a crane. I finish the full sphere on the trailer.

I then begin making the nest base that supports the nest off the ground. The base needs to be strong enough to support as much as two thousand pounds of wet wood and people. I engineer the base using strategic cross bracing and lag bolts that are placed to be unseen. This creates a completely natural appearance, as if the nest grew into its form.

This is my nest building crew Merran Dub from India, Jayson Fann, and Catroy Gates from Louisiana.

For long distance commissions we pick up the nests with a special forklift and load them into a semi-truck.

The base is placed on the trailer with the nest. In this picture you see them both ready to be transported to the location where they will be installed. On some occasions I build the nest completely on site if shipping is not possible or the location does not permit a crane.

Once we arrived at the location I attach heavy straps around the base and lift it into position with a two ton crane. In some cases I will lift the nest over a house to place it in a backyard, by the side of a river, or overlooking the ocean on a cliff edge.

This nest is in Pebble Beach, CA. The base is extremely strong and was set on level ground.

Then the nest is lifted and placed perfectly on top of the base.

Most of the crane operators ask to have a picture taken with the nest to show their family, perhaps its not the average day for a crane operator. This nest above is at a private residence in Carmel, California.

It is at this point that I begin to connect the base with the nest. This secures the nest and merges the two forms into one complete structure. This takes several days with a crew and a lot more wood. This particular nest is at the Treebones resort in Big Sur, CA.

The final stage of completing the nest is creating the spiraling wreath on the front of the nest, installing an exterior grade woven mat for sitting comfortably in the nest, and making a ladder. Notice the spiraling pattern on the inside of the nest as well as the outside. This is a small nest built for the Natural History Museum in Pacific Grove, CA.

By purchasing a Spirit Nest you are helping to sponsor the Big Sur Spirit Garden's international arts and cultural initiatives that present hundreds of world class artists annually.