The Grounds for Sculpture May 26, 2002
Not
being able to get a tee time on short notice can be a blessing. Instead of
playing golf, my
friends Bruce and Evelyn (with their peacock feathers fanned out behind them) drove us to
the Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.
This
wonderful 10-year-old park features twenty-two landscaped acres with over 2,000 rose bushes, 1,000
trees, and innumerable flowers and shrubs, all planted to showcase (surprise!) sculpture
by American and International artists.
Incongruously
situated in a light industrial district (which itself is now home to many
sculptures), the
Grounds' waterways, contours and plantings provide a tranquil
setting for three distinct
categories of
modern
sculpture. First
there are recognizable forms: a fiery-eyed horse, grotesque rat-like critters
(Evelyn's favorites) and other
representations of the familiar or whimsical. More common are large, bold, abstract
pieces like the one Dick is peeking through.
Whereas some of these sculptures strike me as
interesting or exciting or even beautiful, others leave me without a clue as to
what the artist had in mind.
But for best of show, I
vote for the category three, "paintings come alive." Steward Johnson Jr., a J&J heir and
the driving force behind the establishment of the Grounds for Sculpture, has
created 
these
most
marvelous pieces, which bring "to life" famous impressionist paintings in a
real garden or actual wooded setting.
As you amble through the park, you chance upon these scenes, purposefully hidden behind hedges
or along the lakefront: delightful, take-your-breath-away encounters.
Within
the park, you'll also find
an
outdoor tree-covered cafe, two exhibit halls, a gift shop and Rats, a bar and
gourmet restaurant (reservations required for lunch or dinner.) Rats'
outdoor deck over
looks
a water-lily pond reminiscent of Monet's paintings of Giverny, and their dinner
includes access to the lit sculpture garden, making for a memorable evening.
We recommend putting the Grounds for Sculpture on your calendar if you should be anywhere near Philadelphia or New York City. Better yet, schedule your visit for the fall of 2002 and also be treated to new work by Dale Chihuly, probably the pre-eminent, living, master of glassblowing. He and his team will be creating huge glass-blown sculptures, and based on his earlier creations, this exhibit alone will be worth the trip.