Wednesday, July 7, 2010

deCordova Sculpture Park


The day after my visit to the New England Wildflower Society (post coming), my friend Steve took me to the deCordova -as it's known around Boston. I had never been. It's a sculpture park and museum that is much more intimately scaled than Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY (post coming). Below are a few highlights from the sculpture park.

Not so much sculpture as much as a sculptural container for plants. I cannot imagine that this is the intentional planting scheme, only vinca holding on in the lower portion. Neat, nonetheless, and could imagine it being planted in a variety of ways.

Hey, look at that -some purple loosestrife in the rock garden they called "Alice's Garden." I wondered if they called the garden this because it has a bit of Alice in Wonderland in its sculpture choices. Then I supposed that loosestrife was fitting as it is a prohibited plant in Massachusetts, and somewhat of a cheshire cat. Always leaves me vexed.

Steve really enjoys this water garden. Set amongst some large pines, it trickles down the hillside.

The upright stones are edged irregularly with casually cut square interiors. From the top of the interior cut, a fountain creates the sound of a gentle rain.

A stack of old newspapers in the woods.

This work is by Steven Siegel, and is placed within what appears to be an old stone foundation.

On top are local plants, like ferns and maples.

I recall working with this artist when I was in undergraduate school, helping to layer newspapers in the cleft of a slope. Interesting to see that he is still working with the same ideas after 20 years.



3 comments:

  1. have you been to Opus 40, in Saugerties?

    ReplyDelete
  2. yes and no. I've been in the driveway when it was closed, woman yelling out door "we're closed!"

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, then, I suggest you go when they're open. :)

    ReplyDelete

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