The Berkshire Botanical Garden will open a new garden-wide exhibition featuring hay sculptures by Michael Melle. On display September 7 through October 14, 2007, the life-size scarecrow sculptures depict humans at their many activities. Michael will demonstrate his art at a special workshop on Sunday, September 16 at 2pm.The exhibition will include a new sculpture created just for the Botanical Garden's pond. Pieces in the exhibition will be available for purchase with 20% of each purchase donated to support the Garden's many educational programs.

Michael Melle found his way to his art as many do: purely by accident. Some 15 years ago he was invited to create a scarecrow for a local contest, which he won. He continued to win the contest for three consecutive years until they finally made him a judge. Today, Michael Melle's unusually life-like scarecrows have been displayed throughout the Northeast, though making them is still a "part-time endeavor."

A full time mail carrier, Michael says his art is something to enjoy. "Usually my sculptures are whimsical with full sized figures doing what humans do --like dancing, gardening, walking, raking leaves digging worms, throwing a stick for a dog and playing with kids." To create the human like faces, Michael uses beeswax. "I only use natural materials like hay, sticks and string. Because the materials are inexpensive, I'm free to make anything."

The Berkshire Botanical Garden exhibition will hold an element of surprise. "I'm going to have the sculptures fit into the garden in a special way. People will discover them in natural scenes, as they walk the garden paths." In honor of this special display, Michael will create a new sculpture to be placed in the Pond Garden. "It will be something brand new featuring a little boy in a scene where he nearly escapes a bit of trouble."

The sculptures range in price from $800 to $1200 and take up to three full days to complete. On occasion, Michael will make sculptures by request and has sometimes been asked to make scarecrows of loved ones. "After my father passed away, I made a sculpture of him sweeping --just to remind me of him, " says Michael.

For further information about the upcoming scarecrow sculpture exhibition and continuing programs at the Berkshire Botanical Garden please call 413-298-3926.