Unique sculpture Garden in New Jersey

Dr. Sushama Kasbekar

Bizarre is the word that comes to one’s mind when viewing the sculptures at the Sculpture Garden at New Jersey, USA. These sculptures by Seaward Johnson offers both old as well as contemporary art and sculpture.

Spread over 42 acres the park is unique because it has so many sculptures with different themes and styles. It can be reached easily from New York and Philadelphia.

Seaward Johnson was a renowned artist of his time in the late 19th century. Renoir’s “The Luncheon of the Boating Party “ (1881) depicts Renoir’s friends on the balcony of Madison Fournaise on the River Seine outside Paris. The figures depict businessmen, society women, artists and critics eating and drinking, laughing and having a good time.

The unusual part about this garden is statues spurting out from the scenery without warning. One such sculpture is a semi naked woman with two men on a lawn by Seaward Johnson entitled “Dejeuner Déjà Vu”.
The 220 sculptures are spread over 42 acres while some contemporary art works are displayed in the six galleries at the park. Several rotating exhibitions are held here from time to time and many events like sound and light show can be enjoyed from time to time.

Amongst the many sculptures, a woman scaling a wall can be seen from a distance. Her naked figure is turned away from viewers as she clings onto the top of a building precariously poised with her hands supporting her and her thick plaited hair swinging down to her hips.

The one sculpture which I couldn’t have imagined was a screaming man with a bald pate quizzically scrunching his face into a O’. As I stood beside him I almost screamed loudly as well, a stress relieving yodel which unfortunately died into a whimper!!

There are umpteen kinds of art in this unusual place and a viewer will need at least three hours to see these wonders. The art should not be missed since it’s a treat for the mind and heart and a balm for the soul.