When many think of ‘sculpture’, the picture that comes to mind is an Italian artist of thousands of years ago chiseling figures from a large stone. Of course, this is sculpture, but many do not know that sculpture today takes on a broader definition, and contemporary sculptors use a variety of techniques and mediums include wood, steel, stone, bronze, stone, concrete, and any combinations of these. The Grounds for Sculpture New Jersey offers a chance for visitors to come in contact with the world of contemporary sculpture. Located in Hamilton New Jersey, Grounds for Sculpture was founded in 1992. Today, Grounds for Sculpture Hamilton is a 35 acre sculpture park that exists to promote and understanding and appreciation of the work of well known and emerging contemporary sculptors. There are over 240 sculptures on the Grounds for Sculpture Hamilton property by both American and international artists, courtesy of the Sculpture Foundation, an organization which collects and lends the pieces for placement in the park.
A visit to Grounds for Sculpture New Jersey is one of the best year round things to do in New Jersey. Utilizing both outdoor gardens and two indoor settings, Grounds for Sculpture can be appreciated even during inclement weather. The manicured landscaping of the Grounds for Sculpture combine with the variety of the pieces found here to give visitors a truly unique experience. Perhaps more than any other New Jersey attraction, natural beauty and human creativity come together here.
Special events are a part of the calendar at Grounds for Sculpture Hamilton, including live music during the summer months in the outdoor section of the property. There are also guided tours of the art available periodically, so be sure to ask the staff of Grounds for Sculpture New Jersey what special events or tours are offered during your visit.
In addition to events for you to watch and listen to,
you can participate in the creativity that makes Grounds
for Sculpture Hamilton such an excellent place. Art workshops
are offered to beginners of all ages. Sometimes children
can learn aspects of sculpting during a kids’ workshop,
and the next workshop offered will be exclusively for
adults who want to learn to sculpt.
Getting to the Grounds for Sculpture New Jersey is fairly straightforward. Take I-295 to exit 65B/Sloan Avenue West, and follow the signs to Grounds for Sculpture. While you enjoy the sculptures, walk around the water features and lakes to work up a good appetite, because Grounds for Sculpture has an excellent on site restaurant, Rat’s.
Visiting the Grounds for Sculpture can be a great stand-alone
experience, or can be a part of a larger New Jersey vacation
that seeks to experience the best cultural experiences
the Garden State has to offer. Newark
Museum, Liberty
Science Center, and Bamboo
Brook Gardens are other recommended pieces of such
a trip. Of course, if time allows, you need not stop at
the border of New Jersey, but visit the Guggenheim, Brooklyn
Museum, Metropolitan
Museum of Art, Broadway
productions, a concert at Carnegie
Hall, and the many other New York City area cultural
venues that are available.
