Mirror, mirror ... in the garden?

Mirrors by nature are utilitarian objects, used almost exclusively in indoor settings to provide a quick glance of one’s reflection or perhaps to accent a room. But they can also be beautiful decorative focal points in the garden, according to landscape designer Mary Gotovich.

The East Hampton resident, known for her artistic use of reflective materials, said during the course of two recent interviews—one at Mecox Gardens in Southampton and one at her home—that her creations are more about beauty and art and less about utility.

“You’re not going to put your mascara on by these mirrors,” she said about her indoor and outdoor designs, which she creates by use of the ancient technique of eglomise—a type of gilding made by attaching hand-hammered, paper-thin sheets of various metals to the back side of glass.

Ms. Gotovich said she started making mirrors as decorative objects approximately three years ago after taking a class in Manhattan with artist Frances Federer, formerly Binnington, a well-known London-based eglomise master.

“It’s not something you really think of making,” Ms. Gotovich said, adding that her fascination developed when she was working as the manager of Mecox Gardens approximately six years ago, before she left to start her own garden design business. “I like what mirrors do, how they bounce light around and change the dimensions of a room or garden.”

Ms. Gotovich’s creations are now sold at Mecox. Current manager Michael Hofstadter said that he and his staff always enjoy what Ms. Gotovich brings to the table in terms of both design and experience. “We love that these are coming from such a creative mind-set and from someone involved in landscape design and understands this field,” he said.

Adding a mirror to an outside area can make it appear larger, which can be particularly desirable in a cozier space, Ms. Gotovich explained. “It adds such wonderful dimensions in a garden, particularly in a small one it can add a lot of depth,” she said.

Ms. Gotovich creates unique mirrors which use different materials, depending on where they will be used.

To mount her creations for indoor or sheltered use, Ms. Gotovich collects frames from yard sales, flea markets and online sites. In those designs, she often uses Italian silver, 12-karat white gold, and 18-karat lemon gold as the metals to be applied to the back of glass.

For her outdoor pieces, Ms. Gotovich uses raw angle iron for the frame. She uses aluminum to gild the mirrors.

“It has the same reflective quality as silver but doesn’t tarnish,” she explained of the angle iron.

Ms. Gotovich said she is interested in the beauty created by mixing the intricate sophistication of eglomise with the raw, rustic element of angle iron. “I love the juxtaposition of something very elegant and something very earthy,” she said, adding that she lets the angle-iron frame rust naturally.

The artist said she continues to try different ideas with her mirrors, sometimes arriving at exciting results. “I’m always trying to push the envelope a little this way or that way,” she said, “It’s a learning process. You’re always learning in any art.”

Last winter, Ms. Gotovich experimented with color in her mirrors and discovered that when the sun hits the hues, a color-filled beam bounces back. “It was so magical so serendipitous; I had no idea it would do that,” she said.

The designer recently competed for her second year at the annual LongHouse Reserve “Container Exhibit” and was awarded a double blue ribbon by guest judge P. Allen Smith. “It just blew my mind considering all the talent there,” she said of the experience.

LongHouse Reserve Executive Director Matko Tomicic said that Ms. Gotovich’s use of mirrors were not only beautiful, but were also a novel idea for the container show.

“Her container is just perfect the way she put it together with her mirrors ... They expand and make you stop and look,” he said.