Grounds for Sculpture
Hamilton Township NJ
2017

Grounds for Sculpture: Where Monet and Manet Live On

These grounds are where you can see this painting come to life.
Woman in the Garden, 1867, Hermitage, St. Petersburg; a study in the effect of sunlight and shadow on colour.

New Jersey's Grounds for Sculpture museum, far as it is from Claude Monet's and Edouard Manet's motherland may seem like an unlikely place to go looking for scenes from the French masters' paintings. However, the truth is that the art of both Monet and Manet is especially conducive to outdoor settings like the Grounds for Sculpture's gardens. One important hallmark of their Impressionist style of art was their choice of unfettered nature as the setting for many of their paintings. It is in the intricacies of human behavior, as observed when illuminated by free engagement with nature and natural lighting, that Monet, Manet, and other French artists of the Impressionist movement would find their genius.

The sculptures inspired by the masters' various paintings are superbly placed in natural settings that so closely mimic the actual painting that to experience them is to viscerally re-live the moments that impressed Monet and Manet so much that they immortalized them on canvas. The sculpture of the bridge from Monet's famous painting, Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies, is particularly delightful precisely because the museum wisely chose to install it over an actual pond with mossy, green lilies floating lazily underneath and with vivid red and pink flower bushes flanking it on both sides.

Those looking for re-creations from Monet and Manet will be particularly delighted with the museum's intertwining of art and nature.

Claude Monet is one of the Impressionist movement's most celebrated artists. Unapologetic about his style, and fierce in his loyalty to his brand of painting, the artist gave to the art world masterpieces that were simple, yet rich in both imagery and message.

All the sculptures inspired or re-created from Monet's work come from the hands of sculptor Seward Johnson, who incidentally is also one of the founders of the park. Johnson may have insisted that his Monet pieces be treated like royalty. Whatever the reason, the pieces inspired by Monet at Grounds for Sculpture are given special treatment.


80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619

Founded: 1992

https://www.groundsforsculpture.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grounds_For_Sculpture

Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum located in Hamilton, New Jersey. It is located on the former site of Trenton Speedway. Founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II, the venue is dedicated to promoting an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by organizing exhibitions, publishing catalogues, and offering a variety of educational programs and special community events.
In July 2000, GFS became a nonprofit organization open to the public. Operation revenues come from visitors, art patrons, donations, and grants. GFS maintains an ever changing collection of sculptures, with works by Seward Johnson and other artists.