Choosing and Placing Sculptures in the Garden
Becky Harris
July 23, 2009
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
I recently visited The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, where they were hosting many large Henry Moore sculptures. While their scales vary greatly, several are massive and really stand up to the larger trees and the midtown skyline in the background. In addition to my academic thoughts, I also started to think up highly inappropriate names for all of them, but that's a discussion for some other venue!
This exhibit made me think about sculptures in gardens of all scales, and how one can best choose and place a yard sculpture in one's garden. Obviously, sculptures take on a wide range of forms and meaning, and are made from many different materials. How do you choose one, and how do you place it? If these questions make you fret to the point of sculpture-choosing paralysis, stop, take a deep breath, and relax. The only true requirements are that (1) You love the sculpture (2) You have the means to lift it and place it wherever your heart desires.
Still nervous? Here are some great garden sculptures to peruse. Browse through them and think about your own outdoor space. Is there a big boring spot where you'd like to gaze out onto something beautiful? Measure it, and keep those measurements in mind when you are out searching for the perfect piece to fill it.
This exhibit made me think about sculptures in gardens of all scales, and how one can best choose and place a yard sculpture in one's garden. Obviously, sculptures take on a wide range of forms and meaning, and are made from many different materials. How do you choose one, and how do you place it? If these questions make you fret to the point of sculpture-choosing paralysis, stop, take a deep breath, and relax. The only true requirements are that (1) You love the sculpture (2) You have the means to lift it and place it wherever your heart desires.
Still nervous? Here are some great garden sculptures to peruse. Browse through them and think about your own outdoor space. Is there a big boring spot where you'd like to gaze out onto something beautiful? Measure it, and keep those measurements in mind when you are out searching for the perfect piece to fill it.
The massive scale of this Henry Moore sculpture is appropriately placed at the side of the great lawn. The white is a great contrast to the colors of the foliage.
Here a sculpture that emphasizes verticality sits at the edge between a flat area and the bottom of a large hillside, directing the eye upward. I'm guessing the meaning may have something to do with geometry and totem poles, but honestly, I really stink at guessing at this stuff.
These Dale Chihuly sculptures blend in beautifully with the lily pond site, and are a lovely surprise.
A Robert Indiana massive LOVE sculpture at The Farnsworth Museum in Rockland Maine. I think I photographed this backwards, but the sun was too bright looking at it in the opposite direction. Plus, I like it's rusty crustyness next to the pristine white house.
These horses are a really fun surprise in this landscape.
Here, the sculptures break up the monotony of an otherwise empty terrace, encouraging a relationship between the pieces and the view, and affecting how visitors choose to move across the terrace.
Here the metallic material of the sculpture reflects the water below, and it is reflected in the water itself. Whoa.
I just love this cow. What else can I really say about it?
Here is the smaller scale use of sculpture that most of us can relate to. The piece fits in as just one of the many forms in the garden.
This large stone stands up to the scale of this field, and eases the transition between prarie plants and carefully tended lawn.
A small meditative piece in an Asian-inspired garden. Bigger is not necessarily better in a garden.
This guy lives in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens right near a lily pond that houses an extremely loud frog. It's a very appropriate location, and I like having my picture taken next to it, because I'm goofy like that.
Here the forms of the trees are the live sculptural element.
Here plant-inspired sculptures mix in with the real deal. Interesting. BTW, what are those things on the tables?
Here, a really large functioning spout serves as fountain and garden sculpture.
Just another Moore piece from ABG...
...and another...
...and another. I like the way this massive pod stands up to the fussy rose gardens. I have some really inappropriate nicknames for this one.
This piece at ABG functions as gate and sculpture.
A gabion chaise at The Farnsworth Museum shows that furniture can serve as sculpture.
I don't really know what's going on here, but I like it. Every piece is sculptural, including the yard furniture and the fountain. Everything is arranged in a way that seems inspired by the gardens of Kyoto. I don't know whose head that is though...
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/71696744@N00/sets/72157618405742087/
I'm not much a photog, but some of them came out OK. If anyone is in Atlanta for the next few months, be sure to check it out; it's well worth the price of admission to the ABG!
Genos, that thing knocks your socks off when you come out of the allee and see it across the great lawn - it's HUGE and so well placed.
Mariette, Mr. Froggie is a real fave of mine. The gardens do a great job of engaging kids from one to one hundred years old!