NYC Day Trip: Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ

Grounds For Sculpture is a 42 acre sculpture park founded in 1992 by the artist J. Seward Johnson.  Despite being a mere 1-hour 20-minute train ride (plus 5-minute cab ride*) from New York's Penn station via NJ transit not a single one of my NY or NJ born friends knew it existed before I told them about it.  Score one for me.  I learned of it from a former co-worker who lives in nearby Princeton Junction and it's definitely worth a visit if sculpture is your thing.  I'll let the (many) photos speak for themselves, although sadly I don't know the artist for most of the pieces.

The people in the background of this sculpture make it look like the park was crazy busy, but it wasn't at all, it was a very mellow place to hang out, this was just close to the entrance before everyone went their own way. 

I love this couple, they are not perfect, but they seem smitten to me!!

A shady grove

The first of many J. Seward Johnson pieces, this one called "The Daydream" inspired by Matisse's "The Dance".  When I first came across this piece I thought it was a real person lying on the ground admiring the nudes.  Duh!!

I love the poppies around this piece

This one reminds me of one of Renoir's bathers, although I am not sure of the inspiration.  The pieces were numbered and we didn't have a pamphlet with the relevant info, but I'm assuming this is another work by J. Seward Johnson.

Ooooh shade!!  It was blisteringly hot today.

Somewhat phallic no??  Or is it just me?

We followed a path labelled 'Forest Of The Subconscious" and came across this glass box of babies!!

Creepy babies!!  What is that giant baby doing to that poor armless woman?  Kids!!

More J. Seward Johnson

The view approaching Rats restaurant.  Stunning, but why oh why would you name a restaurant Rats?  It supposed to be a good restaurant, but it was closed today so we didn't get to sample their fare, but...Rats????

I don't know what she's smoking, but she looks very zen!!

Another J. Seward Johnson piece.  This one is called 'Pondering The Benefits Of Exercise"

Stick 'em up!!

I'm not sure what's going on here, but I like it!!

A piece from True or False by Houston based artist Sharon Engelstein

This was one of my faves!!

A real peacock - not a J. Seward Johnson piece

The car in the previous photo and this chandelier are made out of...

...plastic water bottles.  The pieces are by NJ based artist, Willie Cole

I love this piece and the white one below by Willie Cole, they are made of SHOES!!!!  Amazing!!

Marilyn Keating in the upstairs area of the gallery

Walking back to the train station - it's a long way, don't walk - we passed this American Gothic inspired piece by J. Seward Johnson...

...and these Renoir inspired dancers

*The brevity of this $12 cab ride may lead you to believe that you can walk back to the Hamilton train station no probs.  It's further than you think.  Believe me, I made this mistake today, it was much further than I thought and I walk 5-miles to work every day, walking is my thing!!