ART IN NATURE

Sculpture parks and gardens offer recreation and contemplation.

By Kathleen Nelson

M

useums are educational and inspirational and all, but let's be honest, they can be a bit stuffy - literally and figuratively. Appreciating a timeless work of art, especially a large-scale sculpture, can be challenging in a dim, musty room crowded with busts, paintings, and vases, each screaming for attention. How much easier it is to savor in the open air, where sunshine and grass, waterfront, prairie, or forest provide atmosphere, scale, and perspective. To experience sculpture surrounded by trees and sky enhances the appreciation of both man's and nature's contributions to the scene. The appeal is compounded with a thoughtfully curated collection, placed along a path, where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Within 100 miles of downtown St. Louis, you can find several examples of such sculpture parks or gardens, all of which are free to the public. Not only do the parks include trails; each is near other bastions of nature such as conservation areas and biking/ hiking trails. Keep in mind that the hours listed below are subject to change based on COVID restrictions and special events; check the website before you go.

Citygarden

801 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. citygardenstl.org Hours: Daily from sunrise to 10 p.m. Highlights: The park's tidy 2.9 acres include 24 works by international artists. The landscape is inspired by the area's rivers, combining native trees and plants, five rain gardens, and three water features. In the past, the pools and fountains have lured hot visitors for a quick respite but will be closed this summer. Connections: Citygarden is part of the Gateway Mall, a mile-long stretch of relatively uninterrupted green space that connects to the Arch, riverfront, and Mississippi Greenway. It is a short walk from all downtown attractions, including Enterprise Center, Busch Stadium, and scores of shops and restaurants.

Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden

Art Museum, 35 Fine Art Drive, St. Louis, Mo. slam.org Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Highlights: The outdoor gallery showcases the St. Louis Art Museum's international collection of 20th-century and contemporary sculpture, each installed in a garden "room" separated by hornbeam and serviceberry trees. Connections: The Art Museum is steps away from the myriad trails of Forest Park, as well as its many renowned institutions. Who needs more than that?

Laumeier Sculpture Park

12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, Mo. laumeiersculpturepark.org Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset. Highlights: More than 60 outdoor sculptures are strategically scattered among 105 acres of woods, fields, and lawns. A few welcome touching or even climbing; check the signs near each display. The indoor collection is open Thursdays and Saturdays, though capacity is limited to 50 people. Connections: Laumeier includes three relatively short trails: Art Hike, 0.77 miles; Central Pathway, 0.64 miles; and Western Woodland, 0.15 miles. Bikes are permitted on paved pathways. The park's website includes a downloadable nature guide, scavenger hunt, and audio tour.

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terrain May/June 2021

culture

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT

: Untitled Citygarden figure. (ROSS MANTLE) ; Jackie Ferrara's Laumier Project . (LAUMIER SCULPTURE PARK) ; one figure in Circle of Wolves at Henry Lay Sculpture Park. (LAY CENTER

FOR EDUCATION AND ARTS)

; The Mountain at Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden (ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM) .