Dougherty will be on hand at Montalvo through Feb. 21, creating a sculpture with ornamental willows that will be on view until June 2004.

Although his plans for the Montalvo grounds are not completely finished, Dougherty believes he will build something reminiscent of a baroque church—an influence from his recent trip to Vienna.

"Montalvo is beautiful, and I would like to build something that is part of that classical vista—a piece that has some reciprocity with the space here," he says.

With scaffolding, two helpers and rope, Dougherty will create his work. He will work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day during his three-week visit to build the structural base, determine the pattern of movement and weave the sticks, finishing with cosmetic work to ensure that not a sapling is out of place.

"The saplings naturally taper in one direction, and you can line them up and create a flowing action, a sense of movement," Dougherty says. "The sticks allow you to bend them easily and form the shape."

Dougherty will build on-site, scaling the sculpture as he goes. He customizes every piece he builds, attuning it to the surroundings of the space. "Each place I build is a little different," he says. "I feel compelled to build differently every place I go, to push myself."

Although some artists specifically seek the solace of creating in a private place, Dougherty celebrates the public nature of his work and his ability to interact with others as he creates.

"It causes a personal association in the viewers," Dougherty says of his material. "It draws out in them certain feelings they already have. People have used sticks for millions of years—people connect with that," he adds, mentioning the way children naturally pick up sticks to play with or older family members weave baskets.

"It is garnering the landscape, reusing nature to build something else that has intrinsic value ... something that deepens the sense of the human condition, that strikes the imagination," he says. "Good sculpture should stir up a lot in the viewer. It should allow you to see something that epitomizes a feeling you couldn't quite touch."

Dougherty has been commissioned for private work, but the majority of his work is for public space. He will create 10 public sculptures this year across the country, with his two next stops in Virginia and Indiana.

"One reason I am an artist is to be able to participate in the world of ideas," Dougherty says. "People get to see the work played out. They see it, enjoy it and talk to me while I make it. You get overloaded so much you become unselfconscious. It feels comfortable."

Montalvo's visual arts director, Michele Rowe-Shields, says Dougherty was a perfect selection to kick off Montalvo's new outdoor sculpture program, which is partially backed by the National Endowment for the Arts.

"His essence has the immediacy of drawing in space," she says. "There is a sense of spontaneity, an urge to move to a harmonious relationship with nature. It draws you in—it is so welcoming, imaginative and intriguing. I am spellbound by his work."

Dougherty delights in viewers feeling drawn to his work, as he believes sculpture should be accessible to everyone. "A person should be able to walk up to a sculpture and get something from it. If they don't understand it, it might not be that good."

Dougherty can be viewed constructing daily from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. until Feb. 21. A reception will be held at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23, in conjunction with the opening of the related exhibition 'Dwelling,' featuring three Bay Area artists.