Viewing the world with a creative lens isn’t ordinarily easy, but I find it possible when I visit an imaginative compound in Hamilton, N.J.
Seeking to escape into an artistic enclave for an afternoon, I visited Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) on Saturday. As I drove toward the entrance and could see the towering sculptures peaking over the iron gates, I got that same excited feeling in my stomach like I had as a kid going to an amusement park. My affinity to be immersed in arts and culture began in my late teens and as an adult, I find solace in exploring artistic creations.
GFS is a 42-acre contemporary sculpture park and museum on the former site of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. It was founded by artist John Seward Johnson II in 1992, and in July 2000 became a nonprofit organization open to the public. Johnson, 86, grandson of Johnson & Johnson co-founder Robert Wood Johnson I, is a philanthropist for arts education and cultural causes.
GFS has a collection of almost 300 contemporary sculptures showcased in the outdoor landscaped environment and six indoor art galleries.
This was my second time visiting. I came alone to pace myself, really experience the outdoor sculptures and take photos. Now in late autumn, with fallen leaves on the ground, the aesthetics were a bit different than when I visited last summer. But, the rustic feel let me see the works in a different light.
There’s a lot going on in the sculpture park. What you experience changes with each turn. The array of works maintain a successful balance of elements such as humor, whimsy and surrealism. The scenery offers a nod to artists like French impressionist painter Claude Monet.
One of Johnson’s latest sculptures is of Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh.
Johnson’s realistic looking, and some quite enormous, sculptures coincide with a hybrid of creations by American and international artists.
In the “Forest of the Subconscious,” I encountered a piece by Gloria Vanderbilt.
“As you look at Heart’s Desire, project yourself into the fairy tale world of Dream Box. What it means to me may not be what it means to you…that you will have to discover for yourself.” – Gloria Vanderbilt.
I walked around for a little over two hours, and then warmed up in the van Gogh café with a cup of tea. I plan to return in the springtime.
Grounds For Sculpture is open year round. Visit the GFS website for hours of operation and programs.