National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens Washington DC
Description
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens – My Capital Gardens USA.co.uk
Horses, a house and a haunting sculpture inspired by the Second World War are among the diverse and thought-provoking works of art that can be discovered in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens. The novel ‘outdoor room’ of the National Gallery of Art provides a peaceful setting for green-fingered art lovers to indulge two passions at the same time. The beautifully planted garden is a feast for all the senses with the maroon flowers of the chocolate cosmos adding a hint of chocolate to the air alongside the delicate scents of magnolia and mint vines.
The six-acre garden showcases 17 works from the gallery’s growing collection as well as sculptures on loan for special exhibitions. A fountain, which doubles as an ice rink during winter, provides a central focal point and there are plenty of seats where visitors can relax and reflect on the sculptures set against a backdrop of mature trees, shrubs and perennials.
The garden, enclosed by a decorative fence designed to reflect the historic character of the gallery’s West Building, houses sculptures created from different materials by artists from around the world. They include British born Barry Flanagan’s witty bronze Thinker on a Rock, where the artist substitutes a hare for Rodin’s famous Thinker. Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz draws her inspiration from wartime experiences whilst Roy Lichtenstein, best known for the pop paintings that he made in the 1960s, shows a different side to his creativity.
The sculpture garden is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, 11am to 6pm. Admission is free.
Website
www.nga.gov
www.nga.gov
Image National Archives through the fountain at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, credit Kim Baker
