New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture

Spent one of the first nice days of April at the New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture. This creative outdoor museum and garden, located nearby in Hamilton NJ, is well worth the price of admission (twelve dollars to be exact!) A link to their site can be found under "Public Gardens" on the Resources section of Our Website at: http://www.martinshawllc.com/resources.html  

 One of our favorite pieces, "The Nine Muses" features 9 depictions of the human form displayed on a slab that appears to float on the pool.

 We got to meet the head gardener - oops! No this is just one of many lifelike bronze sculptures by Seward Johnson on the Grounds.

 A view of the Museum (currently featuring the work of equine sculptor Deborah Butterfield) as seen through the branches of a Contorted Filbert, aka Harry Lauder's Walking Stick.

 Soft undulations created in the lawn with steel edging. A sculpture in the distance features river stone in a steel cage.

 Yes, those are real peacocks! They roam the Grounds freely and allow you to get close enough to photograph them. (I think they rather enjoy it, seeing as they are known for their pride!)

 The Cafe courtyard is filled with seating designed by Richard Schultz. We profiled his work with Knoll Furniture recently on Our Blog, here: http://bit.ly/hQlmHo

Richard Schultz Topiary Chair is designed to look like a shrub, maintained to look like a chair! A company link can be found at the end of Our Blog featuring his work, here: http://bit.ly/hQlmHo

 This cherry log bench was carved by chainsaw and chisel artist Emilie Brzezinski. You know, I think we could make something like this.

The Water Garden terrace outside the Domestic Arts Building is constructed of concrete with asymmetrical bands of granite throughout...we could do this too!

 Cast aluminum Pumpkins sculptures are nestled among a mock-orchard of Crabapple and Cherry planted in precise rows.

  The Pergola and Lotus Pond as glimpsed through the branches of a Weeping Pink Cherry.

 A forest of welded tree sculptures are planted on a hillside surrounded by real specimen evergreens.

 A pair of sculpted 'Ents' (tree people) dance joyfully in a clearing.

A lovely little stained-glass lamp illuminates a pathway.

 Rats Restaurant as seen from the Grounds across the pond, over a tumbling waterfalls and through an arbor of branches. Don't worry, Rats is named after the character from Wind in the Willows. Their last chef was winner in a culinary TV competition and their latest is a relative of Johnny Cash!

 "Nice Doggie..." This ferocious little guy is cousin of the Beast who called New Hope home for many years, having both been created by artist Dana L. Stewart.

The pink blooms of a cherry provide a colorful backdrop for the form of another weeping tree.

 A Decomposed Granite pathway passes through the shining contemporary sculpture.

 Beyond a Weeping Norway Spruce an enormous arbor spans the entrance to the New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture.

A Travertine Limestone gate as seen through the branches of a spring blooming Saucer Magnolia.