Saturday, 25 February 2017
After peering over the fence on Thursday at a fascinating property that Our Kathleen had told me about, we got a comment on our blog from Charlene that made me feel compelled to see inside.
“I was on that property, for a gathering, and it’s more than incredible. I walked around for a couple hours and still didn’t see everything. You would come upon a garden item, and stand and look, to see what he had repurposed to make it. He would go to Boeing surplus and buy all these ordinary things and come back and make magician garden areas and displays. He is a pure inventor. I just did not want to leave! If you get a chance to visit it, go.”
So I called the realty company today and said I don’t want to buy it (even if I sort of do) but that I would love to blog about it…and the listing agent was happy to show us around. Here is the Artist garden link and the description:
“This is so much more than 4 vacant land parcels. Enter the gates and you enter a private garden like no other. 100s of plants in containers, a grove of bamboo, mature trees and beautiful one-off gazebos and garden features. All of this is anchored by a grand pavilion made from steel and found materials in the grand style of The Rural Studio and Samuel Mockbee. The site features a private well, 2 RV cleanouts, 100 amp power, sleeping area, kitchen and bathroom, and 40′ steel storage container.” The agent is Mark Magee at 503-860-5596.
Samuel Mockbee’s goal was providing “shelter for the soul.” I feel that here on this property.
The owner collected salvage and turned it into art. Mark told us that some viewers wonder what they would do with all that “junk”. The sort of people I know would be thrilled to have it.
At the center of the property is a large pavilion.
Here are three photos of the pavilion from the real estate listing:
On the south back side of the property is the large storage container and all sorts of ingredients for more projects. The entire property is fenced, tall enough to keep out deer.
If I were, say, 40, I would still have the energy to say I could so easily live in this space. We could convert the 40 foot storage container into more housing, or bring in an RV to one of the two RV sites. To add an actual house, manufactured or stick built, one would have to have a new septic system installed. Earlier in my life, I’d have found it easy to live with what’s there now.
I can easily imagine a delightful alternative life here. I can’t leave my home and garden to take it on….but maybe you can?
I asked realtor Mark Magee to please let me know if he has any more listings that are amazing secret soul nurturing hideaways like this. I would love to see them and blog about them. After all, it was my blog posts about it that brought the perfect new owner to the original Tangly Cottage.
It takes the right person to buy this property.–Someone who values the existing creativity and has a vision for additional possibilities to recycle the unused materials to make more art. Many people simply lack that vision, which is sad. Not growing up seeing real art or creativity, lots of people value cheap junk from China as garden art.
There are tons of examples of painters, who in their day, were poo-pooed. Now their art sells for exorbitant amounts of money, and everyone loves it.
I used to live in Austin, TX where the city-wide motto was “Keep Austin Weird.”
When I put my former house on the market, while I had many positive comments, I also got one from a man who said, “This property is even too weird for Austin. That really hurt and no, I didn’t have junk lying around. My property was lovely and eventually sold to a woman, who herself, was an artist.
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Oh, I bet your place in Austin was just what I like! Portland OR also has “Keep Portland Weird” as a motto.
I’ve heard all sorts of wonderful things about Austin as a cool place to live.
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What a wonderful, eclectic property. I must admit that not only am I coveting the property, the pictorial tour has inspired me to think of similar projects for my own garden.
Oh the creativity. It is the home of a dreamer.
Thank you so much for taking the time and the bother so that we may stroll through this artist’s dream.
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What a cool property! I love the tall arch with the three circles. It takes a special person with vision to see the possibilities in a place like this. I hope it finds a new owner.
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An extraordinary space. I hope a new buyer will preserve it.
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What a great garden. Thank you very much for showing it to us.
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Oh! It was 10 years ago, when I saw it, and it was so wonderful. Hope someone could bring it back….thanks for the pictures.
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How very tempting. A bit of a commute from my jobs but what an amazing creation.
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Wish you would!
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