The Ephemeral Garden

Since I can remember, my uncle Onofre has been making art. He's quite modest, in fact, despite his genius. For the past several years, his yard has become an ever-changing gallery of found objects combined in unexpected ways. Located in the suburbs just north of downtown Cincinnati, Onofre has created a whole new world that stands out among the normalcy of the somewhat conservative neighborhood. From a garden of bowling balls to a collection of tea kettles hanging from the long branches a large oak tree, his unexpected placement and unique juxtaposition of found objects have truly become an inspiration.

As an avid and dedicated thrift store and flea market shopper, he has collected a multitude of ordinary objects over the years. Sometimes when he finds that one special object, he knows exactly where it's going to be placed in the yard. Other times, his purchases remain piled up inside the house, waiting for a spark of inspiration.

Below are images taken of his yard during my trip to Cincinnati last summer.