Eco-Art in charming Sonoma County!

During my trip in the Sonoma County last week, I stayed a few nights at Sebastopol, a fantastic little town surrounded by majestic rolling hills in the diverse landscape of a rich agricultural heritage located just a few miles away from the Redwood forest. Amongst the other gorgeous towns I discovered was the picturesque Occidental village. I am always struck by people’s ecological awareness and education in this area: Eco-houses, organic menus at restaurants, sustainable residential and business conservation methods reflect the green conscious choice that most people have made to preserve the environment.

How can one not be an environmentalist when every corner of this charming country side stands as a gem in the middle of nature, wildlife and friendly local people? Every angle of landscape was worth stopping for a picture and meditation in the silence of beauty.

What made my trip also very special was that even artists choose to be environmentally friendly! I was especially amused by discovering unusual junk sculptures found all along my trip in front of businesses or churches, sometimes towered high into the air in front of famous vineyards villas or decorating the front of a residential house yard.

Was this town having a community sculpture contest?

How intriguing and imaginative! I had so much fun capturing these magical art inventions in my camera, wondering who and how this art has been created. It was only during my last day in Sebastopol while heading back to the 12 freeway on my way back to Los Angeles that I decided to conduct a thorough investigation in Sebastopol about this curious artist that had triggered my interest for eco-art during my entire trip.

I discovered more delightful sculptures on almost every house front yards of Florence Street. A few hundred yards away from where I parked my car, I had the privilege to find one of the artists behind this inventive piece of art in her own house at Florence Street. Brigitte, an energetic French Canadian woman explained to me that her husband, Patrick Amoit the “other
half of the artist ”and she, collect garbage cans, pipes, mailboxes, cooking pans from neighbors, junk yard and turn them into these colorful and imaginative one of a kind pieces of art. She said she was very fortunate to have found this very special community where they can live off their art while raising their daughters and enjoying a relaxed feel of the gorgeous country side.

In the middle of our lively conversation, a neighbor stopped by to drop off a couple of old cooking pans which made me realize that Patrick Amoit and Brigitte’s whimsical art has become a collective community experience celebrated all across the beautiful region. And they even raise money for local schools with their beautiful folk art calendars!

If you get a chance to travel in the Sonoma County, I highly recommend you to take this unique sculpture tour. You can follow their map and add some more creative spice to your journey in this beautiful countryside. For more information visit their websites@:

folkartforschools.com

patrickamiot-brigittelaurent.com