FALL 2018
EVOLUTION AT GFS
Exclusive look at exhibitions by James Carl and Michael Rees The Dina Wind Project In Appreciation
September • October • November • December
9.18 WELCOME Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) is in a period of significant transition, building on a sound and vibrant foundation of success over the last 25 years. A strategic planning process has resulted in a long-term vision that sets our aspirations to be a leader, magnet and vibrant forum that invites a diverse public to create, learn, and discover personal meaning in their interactions with art, nature and one another. Our plan identifies key strategic priorities (Impact, Relevance & Capacity) that will drive the next 3-5 years of work toward our larger vision. We plan to expand and deepen our impact by growing as a cultural hub in the region. GFS seeks to be inclusive, reflective, and responsive to the dynamic world we live in. We will focus on deepening our engagement with, and providing meaningful encounters for, all our visitors. – GFS Strategic Vision Planning and Process 2018-2028 Your membership support, active engagement in our programs, and participation in our recent evaluations all inform GFS’s organizational evolution. Thank you for your personal role in the success of GFS. We hope you enjoy this newsletter’s insights into evolutions at GFS–exhibitions that push the boundaries and possibilities of space and sculpture, our journey towards a new and improved website, our expanding educational experiences, new staff, and more. Claire Cossaboon Manager of Membership ccossaboon@groundsforsculpture.org
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE YOUR GFS MEMBERSHIP! FIRST FRIDAYS @ GFS Fridays – September 7 & October 5 (6-9pm) Unwind while enjoying drinks at our open-air beer garden, checking out the art, wandering the grounds, going behind the scenes at The Seward Johnson Atelier, and enjoying a variety of pop-up performances and other fun happenings. Free for Members!
GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE IS GETTING A NEW WEBSITE! Our website sees a lot of traffic – almost 1M visits each year, and as we heard from many of you who completed our recent “web user” survey, the site could benefit from some enhancement and improvement. We have retained a Philadelphia-based firm, Eastern Standard, for this work. We are in the early stages now and hope to bring you a new website which is both focused on user experience and more evocative of Grounds For Sculpture. Many thanks to each of you who participated in our survey. Your feedback provided necessary insights and will help shape our approach. And in case you are wondering, we hope to launch in early 2019. Stay tuned!
COVER: Dina Wind, Harp of David #1, 1985/2018, steel, 26 x 24 x 22 feet, Courtesy of the Dina Wind Art Foundation, photo: David W. Steele
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CONNECT WITH GFS
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OPEN LATE FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS Through October 7 MEMBER MORNINGS Sundays – September 30, October 28, November 25
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Members enjoy early access to the park at 8am on the final Sunday of the month, April – November. Top left: Isaac Witkin, Garden State, 1997, Zimbabwe black granite, 188 x 133 x 115 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier, ©Estate of Isaac Witkin; photo by dmhphotographer.com
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SAVE THE DATE member events calendar FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS, VISIT GROUNDSFORSCULPTURE.ORG OR CALL (609) 586-0616.
18TH ANNUAL EPICUREAN PALETTE Sunday, September 23 from 1-4pm The Epicurean Palette is GFS’s largest fundraiser and the area’s most prestigious wine and food event featuring cuisine by chefs from the finest restaurants, as well as a generous selection of wine, beer, and spirits from local purveyors. This event takes place on GFS’s beautifully landscaped 42-acre sculpture park, and attracts approximately 1,200 people from in and around the tri-state area. Member General Admission $125; Non-member General Admission $185. Tickets on sale at www. epicureanpalette.org.
ART SALON: SEWARD JOHNSON Tuesday, December 4th, from 11 am – 2 pm Spend time with the visionary founder of GFS in this rare Art Salon with Seward Johnson. Known to many as the artist who created the well-loved Man-on-the-Street sculptures, Johnson is equally known for his Beyond the Frame and Icon series! The event starts with an exclusive visit to the artist’s studio, where you will experience the unique Van Gogh bedroom. Then, dine with Mr. Johnson as he reflects on his career, tells stories, and answers your questions. Members $175; Non-Members $225 Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens, photo by Carol DeGuiseppi
MEMBERS’ MUSINGS October 26 – December 9, Education Gallery The ninth annual Members’ Musings exhibition features artwork exclusively by GFS members. This year’s juror is Adrienne Neszmelyi-Romano, Director of Interpretation and Innovation at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA.
FALL/WINTER MEMBER PREVIEW DAY Saturday, October 27, 10am-2pm Enjoy a members-only opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of the artistic season! Members enjoy special programs, such as artist tours and talks, performances, art-making, and more. Members may use Guest Passes to bring additional guests. Gates open at 9:30am. Present your current membership card or join upon entry. Program schedule available online in October.
Masayuki Koorida, Untitled, 2015, granite, 60.24 x 124.80 x 79.53 inches, Collection of the artist. Photo by dmhphotographer.com
Save-the-Date for our Spring/Summer Member Preview Day: Saturday, May 4, 2019
MEMBER TRIP TO WINTER LIGHTS AT LONGWOOD GARDENS Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Kick off a joyful holiday season with GFS staff and horticulturists on this member trip exploring Longwood Gardens and its winter light display. Learn about the botanical garden and how the light display is created. Later, explore the indoor conservatory gardens and outdoor wonderland, illuminated by a half-million lights. This members-only trip is open to current and new GFS members. Register online or call (609) 586-0616. Limited space! $95 includes coach transportation, boxed lunch and refreshments on bus, and admission.
ART SALON: MASAYUKI KOORIDA Tuesday, October 30, 2018 from 11 am – 2pm Meet the artist behind one of our newest exhibitions Masayuki Koorida: Sculpture. In his first major exhibition in the United States, Koorida explores his relationship with nature through 26 granite, carved stone, stainless steel and cast acrylic works. Dine with the artist at Rat’s Restaurant and learn about his history and the creation of the exhibition - from materials to processes and influences. $60 Members; $75 Non-Members.
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SAVE THE DATE! FROST AND FLAMES Saturday, January 19, 11am – 4pm Get up close and watch as master carvers turn huge blocks of ice into art using power saws, chisels, brawn, and grit. Then, warm up by the heat of the furnace as sculptors from The Seward Johnson Atelier pour molten metal as they demonstrate the ancient art of metal casting. These talented artists will amaze you with what and how they create during this one-of-a-kind event. Free for members!
member REFLECTIONS PLEIN AIR CINEMA SERIES: ARTFUL ANIMATION
On July 5, Joyce J. Scott ceremoniously began the de-install of her site-specific work Graffiti Harriet. Joyce J. Scott, Graffiti Harriet, 2017, soil, clay, straw, resin gun with beads and found objects, dimensions variable, Courtesy of Goya Contemporary Gallery, Baltimore, MD
On Saturday, July 28, member families gathered in the West Gallery for our annual GFS Family Breakfast. This free program for Family level members and above offered breakfast, a hands-on activity, and a family-friendly tour of the sculpture garden. Families made their own artwork come alive using similar Augmented Reality technology as used in exhibition Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells.
On Saturday, August 11, the GFS Young Professionals hosted AFTERGLOW 2018, a unique after-hours experience featuring music, food, signature drinks, and glowing performances. Guests experienced Social Sparkles, an interactive installation by multidisciplinary design studio Toer (Netherlands), reminiscent of fireflies on a summer night and filling the air with swarms of light that move overhead as guests walk below. It was a brilliant night!
VISIT US IN THE MEMBER LOUNGE!
Thursdays – Sundays, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Located in a bright corner of the Welcome Center overlooking the gardens, the Member Lounge is an inviting space for members to take a break with a complimentary refreshment. Read the latest museum publications, take a New Member Orientation, learn about upcoming programs and trips, or connect with a staff member.
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Photo by dmhphotographer.com
This summer, GFS’s Plein Air Cinema Series presented four films inspired by the digital elements and experiences in Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells. Rena Perrone, GFS Curator of Performing Arts, shared, “As a precursor to Augmented and Virtual Reality technologies, animated films provide a link to the infinite possibilities these unique cinematic experiences provide in telling a story. From the longest surviving featurelength animated film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, which used a simple but meticulous technique of silhouette animation, to the truly astounding 65,000 oil-painted canvases of Loving Vincent, this summer’s series enchanted, surprised, and waxed nostalgic, adults and families alike.”
IN APPRECIATION Grounds For Sculpture is grateful for the generous support of its founder, Seward Johnson, his family and the family foundations—collectively, they have gifted more than $140,000,000 for the land, buildings and sculpture, and provided the necessary resources to help build the organization’s capacity and infrastructure—creating a sculpture park and museum like no other. We are honored to share the following list of donors, members, and partners whose commitment toGFS represent its future growth. The following donors supported GFS between April 1, 2017-June 30, 2018. Special thanks to our supporters of 3 or more consecutive years.
$500,000-$1,000,000 + Cecelia Joyce and Seward Johnson Johnson Art and Education Foundation, Inc. The Atlantic Foundation
$100,000-$499,999
Jerry Wind
$50,000-$99,999 Lulie and Gordon Gund India Blake Foundation
$10,000-$49,999
Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass Bank of America Bloomberg Capital Health System Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation Farleigh S. Dickinson Jr. Foundation, Inc. Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation John S. Johnson, III. and Susan Short Johnson Barbara Lawrence and Allen Laskin MacArthur Foundation National Endowment for the Arts, Artworks New Jersey Council for the Humanities New Jersey State Council on the Arts David Novak, in memory of William Fox and in honor of Esther Novak NRG Energy, Inc. Princeton Marriott at Forrestal Quaker Bridge Mall Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Eric B. Ryan Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas The Agnes Gund Foundation The Bay Branch Foundation on behalf of Elaine Wold The Cecelia Joyce and Seward Johnson Foundation Donna B. and Joseph Tully
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UBS Dr. and Mrs. Anthony R. Volpe Alan White
$3,000-$9,999
Advanced Clinical Robbye and Kevin Apperson Barbara and Gerald Essig Charitable Fund at Vanguard Charitable Kathryn and Charles G. Berry Lois and Julian Brodsky Cadillac CRM Management, LLC. Marco Cucchi Michael De Paola Deutsche Bank, New York Dina Wind Art Foundation Goya Contemporary, LLC. James Heston Investors Foundation, Inc. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J.P. Morgan Private Bank Vanita Konzelmann, in memory of Linda Casill Vogel Rollin LaFrance, in memory of Gail LaFrance Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D. Martha Macks-Kahn Anne McHugh National Guild for Community Arts Education Pennoni & Associates Ruthann and Tom Perry PNC Foundation Princeton Area Community Foundation Hella and Scott McVay Fund Kieling Family Fund The Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Fund Lori Rickles and Cuong Do Rosemark Smart Capital Roundview Capital Carol Schwirck, in memory of Stephen Schwirck The Cruz Family Foundation, Inc. in memory of Edward Cruz T he Michael & Jeanine Greenleaf Fund of Schwab Charitable The Pheasant Hill Foundation The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc. V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. Whole Foods South Jersey
$1,000-$2,999
Ancero Ulli and Volker Arendt Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Jennifer Brusilovsky, in memory of Joseph Brodsky Scott Carpenter and Tristen Herrstrom Chubb Group of Insurance Companies Melisande and Alfred D’Alessio Mary Ellen and Robert Darretta ENGIE Resources Carol Freedman Lisa and Richard Freeman
Ilana and Mauricio Gutierrez Habatat Galleries Sandra Hendler Lloyd, in memory of May Hendler and T.C. Lloyd Seymour Ikenson Investors Bank Kales Nursery & Landscaping Service, Inc. Ed Landis Carole C. Levin Sharon and Frank Lorenzo Hella and Scott McVay Mercadien Technologies Connie Mitchko and Gerald J. Grossman Esther Novak Judy and Adeoye Olukotun Oropeza & Parks CPAs Primepoint, LLC. Robert Young & Sons, Inc. Melissa Savant, in memory of Lee Bowermaster Laura N. Solomon TD Bank Henry Thaggert The Japan Foundation, New York The Stephen & Joyce Chen Shueh C haritable Fund of Schwab Charitable, in honor of their parents, Stephen and Fae Chen & Shing-Fu and Sue Hsueh Henry Thaggert Dona Warner and Jon Lash Withum Barry Zhang and Bonnie Liao
$500 - $999
AT&T Corporate Matching Gifts Sandy and Vince Basanavage Deborah E. Collins Delis Landscaping Salvatore T. DiMascio Anna Drago Jill P. Fowler Joan Freedman Tammy and John Gibson Barbara Hemmings Samantha and Douglas Houser Grace and Elmer Hsu Johnson and Johnson Employee Funds Sandra and Andrew Kaldor Allen Kassof Jody Kendall Nora Wren Kerr Everett Kline Greg Kucera and Larry Yocom Barbara and Thomas Moran Sheela and William Olson Hubert Phipps Princetel, Inc. Bitten Stripp The Merck Foundation Corporate Matching Gifts Kathryn and Peter Turner Sarah and Michael Unger
Beth Barrie and Chuck Hardin
$200-$499
Lynda and Kyle Benedetto Debra and Eric Bjorling Ruth A. Blattenberger Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Diana Chou and Manual Chaviano Daniel Clayman Ruthann and Kyle Cloman Teri Cox Linda Curro Alyce and Eugene Fluder, Jr. Ann-Linn and Lawrence Glaser Dorothy Greenbaum Lori Hennon-Bell and Tom Bell Dr. Robert Herrig and Michael Chang Andi Hook Carol and William Joyce Jane and Alan Levin Paula and James McNally Dorothy and John Meggitt Christine O’Brien and Paul Anzano Robin Pallen Susan Raab-DeNicola and Joseph Ventriglia Helen and Robert Ribbans Lorraine Rose Edna Russo Barbara and Lawrence A. Smith Susan Tenney and Hal Diamond Paula and Charles Tompkins U.S. Bank Foundation Matching Gifts Barbara Walsh and Jeff Tittel Arlene and David Wilner Susan N. Wilson Theresa and Jay Wrobel
$100 - $199 Cynthia Afsharia
Corinne Agins Toni Albert and Philip Myerowitz Janet and Wayne Appleton Patricia Barnabeo Cynthia and Hugh Barrie Lucienne Beard and Timothy Jewett Florence and Ted Begun Barbara Berko and Joel Deitz Joan and Michael Berzansky Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie Penny and Frank Bolden, in celebration of Kathy Lucas Mary Bolenbaugh Lenore Briskman Helen and Larry Bryan Sandy Carlstrom and Henry Meyers Margaret C. Cheney Kathy Collins Jane and Curtiss Conrad Nancy and Joseph Costa Suzanne and Stan Danzig Sara and Russ Davis Heather De Troeyer and Thomas Abbondante Rhonda DiMascio and Matthew Popken Dr. Wendy P. and Gabriel Battisti III Charitable Fund of Fidelity Linda and John Dunsmuir
Priscilla Estes and Paul Wulfing Susie Estomin and Michael Boroznoff John Etchberger Joanna and Clement Fiori Sheila and Carl Geisler Carol Golden Elizabeth Gould Nancy and Bill Griffith Richard Heinrich Coralie and John Hoffman Shing-Fu Hsueh IBM Corporation Matching Gifts Program Junichiro Iwase Deborah and Brian Kelly Kathie Kelly Susan and Mel Kubota Karen Kuo Camille Lombard and Gil Kunz Benjamin Long Angelica V. Mariani Marian R. Stuart, Ph.D. Foundation of Fidelity Charitable Michael R. Douglas Charitable Fund of Fidelity Charitable Carol and Bill Moorhead Maureen and John Moroze Rene Obregon Tish and Sean O’Sullivan Joanne Palmer Lisa Petronio Joan and Ronald Portman Robin and Jeffrey Povell Sarah A. Ringer Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Corporate Matching Gifts M.J. Rossilli-Mitchell and Pia Mitchell Gerard J. Roubichou Susan and Fredric Sanders Brian Savage Ruth and Jonathan Savage Jan Seguin Rita Seplowitz-Saltz Clare and Edward Sheehan Robyn Shephard Roberta Strickler and David L. Meyers Wendy Thomas and Gary Miller Trina Thompson and Ernest Funari Elizabeth Thorndike Linda To United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Matching Gifts Rhoda K. Wagman Harriette and Henry Ward Terence Wassum W illiam Penn Foundation Matching Gifts Tom Wilschutz Joyce Zboyan Skip Ziccardi
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Bank of America Benjamin Levine Foundation Bloomberg Burlington Electrical Testing Company Inc. Capital Health System Community Investment Strategies, Inc. Custom Essence Deutsche Bank, New York Event Navigators, LLC. GFT Charity, Inc. Green Building Solutions. LLC. Hamilton Pet Meadow Hauptman Floor Covering Company, Inc. High Hotels Hopewell Valley Vineyards Inn at Glencairn Innophos Holdings, Inc J & J Maintenance Solutions, Inc. John S. Johnson, III. Johnson & Johnson Kales Nursery & Landscaping Service, Inc. Laurenti Charitable Trust Mercadien Technologies NRG Energy, Inc. Oropeza & Parks CPAs Pennoni & Associates Phillips McDade Controls Primepoint, LLC. Princetel, Inc. Princeton Marriott at Forrestal Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce & Princeton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Quaker Bridge Mall RAS Technology Consultants Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Roundview Capital Rosemark Smart Capital S&P Global TD Bank The Bank of Princeton The Entrepreneurs Group, UBS Wealth Management Wendon Engineering Trident Plastics Tris Pharma V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. Whole Foods South Jersey
IN-KIND GIFTS
Delaware County Linen Delta’s Restaurant Destination Dogs Digital Dog Direct Disaronno Spirits-Corvo Wines Fedway Associates Lauber Selections Ferari-Carano Vineyards & Winery Gallo Wines Sales of New Jersey Genarro’s Restaurant Hamilton Jewelers Hopewell Valley Vineyards Hub City/Blue Moon Beer Jersey Mike’s Hamilton Square Julius Silvert, Inc. Kobrand Marilyn Schlossbach Catering & Events Marsha Brown Restaurant Mehek Indian Restaurant Michel et Augustin Miele Mistral Monday Morning Flowers Opici Family Distributing Party Rental Ltd. Rat’s Restaurant Rodney Strong Vineyards Salt Creek Grille Shore Point Wine/Spirit Singer Equipment Company Sir Speedy Sourland Mountain Spirits Starr Catering Group Tattoo Tequila The Boathouse at Mercer Lake The Brothers Moon The Gingered Peach The Johnson Family Foundations The Wine Group Thomas Sweet Tito’s Handmade Vodka Treasury Wine Estates Unionville Vineyards VerTerra Via 45 Viburnum Florist Victor Printing Wegman’s Princeton Whole Foods South Jersey Winebow
COLLABORATING PARTNERS
21st Century Group ARC Mercer Art Educators of New Jersey Art Pride NJ Foundation Arts Council of Princeton Authentic Convos Beyond Expectations Boheme Opera Bridges to Employment – A Division of Alternatives, Inc. Cairn University Carrier Clinic Council of NJ Grantmakers
Cultural Access Network Digital Atelier, LLC. Discover Jersey Arts Dodge Poetry Festival Foundation Academies GlassRoots Graffito Works Guerrilla Haiku Movement Guild for Early Music Hamilton Library Hamilton Partnership Hamilton Township Public Library Hamilton Township School District HomeFront International Sculpture Center Isles, Inc. Jersey Cares Labyrinth Books Mercer County Community College Middlesex Seeing Eye Millhill Child & Family Development Center Miracle Eyes of Mercer - The Seeing Eye Morven Museum & Garden New Jersey Arts Education Collective New Jersey Council for the Humanities New Jersey Cultural Access Network New Jersey Historical Society New Jersey State Council on the Arts New Jersey Theater Alliance Outlet Dance Festival Princeton Area Community Foundation Princeton Garden Theatre Princeton Public Library Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Princeton University Progressive Center for Independent Living Rider University Rutgers University Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum The College of New Jersey The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc. Trent Center East & West Trenton Area Soup Kitchen Trenton Area Stakeholders Trenton Circus Squad Trenton Education Dance Institute United Way of Mercer County Volunteer Connect William Trent House Museum Women in Development of Mercer County Young Audiences of NJ
Advanced Clinical Ancero
Allied Beverage Group Blend Bar & Bistro Blooming Grove Inn Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse Breakthru Beverage Group Brooklyn Brewery Caffé Storico Carella’s Chocolates & Gifts Cool Vines Crave Events Group Culinary Arts Center at Rowan College
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For space considerations, this list is limited to contributions of $100 and above. Members are listed by their tax-deductible amounts at the following levels: Contributor ($350), Sustainer ($500) and Benefactor ($1,200).
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPS
Grounds For Sculpture welcomes gifts of any size and makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of its list of donors. If we have made an error or omission, please accept our apologies and notify us immediately by contacting the Development Office at 609-249-0244. To make a donation to Grounds For Sculpture click here or call the number listed above. Thank you!
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SUPPORT
THE GFS LEGACY SOCIETY
GFS RECEIVES NATIONAL GUILD FOR COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION GRANT
Join the GFS Legacy Society and help support Grounds For Sculpture through planned giving. Through your bequest or other planned gifts, you can ensure that Grounds For Sculpture will continue to fulfill its mission of combining art and beckoning spaces to welcome, surprise and engage all visitors in the artist’s act of invention. For more information please contact the Development Office at 609-249-0233 or at 609-249-0244.
Grounds For Sculpture was one of just ten arts organizations from across the nation selected by the National Guild for Community Arts Education to receive a grant of $7,000 to support the launch of a new education program, Creating Connections. This program is a new and innovative arts education program for older adults in the community. The program, which will take place over the course of twelve weeks starting in September, will provide participants will have the opportunity to become familiar with foundational elements of, and materials used for, drawing. Works featured in GFS’s Masayuki Koorida: Sculpture exhibition will serve as the grounding inspiration for this series.
AMAZON SMILE Did you know you can help support Grounds For Sculpture every time you make an Amazon Prime purchase? To participate, go to smile.amazon.com/ch/22-3694371 and Amazon will give a portion of the proceeds to GFS!
BROOKE BARRIE ART FUND GFS TOMORROW Please consider joining GFS supporters in this year’s annual appeal. Visit gfstomorrow. org or call the Development Office at 609-249-0233 or 609-249-0244.
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Want to help Grounds For Sculpture grow and conserve its collection? Donate to the Brooke Barrie Art Fund! Named for the first Director and Curator of Grounds For Sculpture, this endowment serves to support acquisitions, conservaction, and exhibition development. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.brookebarrieartfund.org or call the Development Office at 609249-0233 or 609-249-0244.
e d u cat i on + ENGAGEMENT Heather Brady, Director of Education & Engagement Photo courtesy of Amanda Midkiff, Locust Light Farm; photo courtesy of The Seward Johnson Atelier.
CREATING CONNECTIONS: DRAWING Wednesdays this fall from 1-3pm Experiment with art materials and processes in this new program for adults 55+.
AN EVENING WITH SUSAN ORLEAN Monday, October 22 at 7pm
This year has been an exciting one for Education and Engagement. Members who have been with GFS from early on know that there has long been a small and nimble team in place working to create interesting and inviting on-site programs for audiences of all ages and abilities. More recently, that team has evolved into a standalone department and grown to include new positions that speak to a more ongoing process of evolution. At the end of winter, we welcomed our first Manager of Group Visit and School Programs, and this summer, a new Manager of Experiential Programs joined us. These additions are an expression not only of the value GFS places on being a meaningful resource to the communities it serves, but also the possibility it sees to deepen its impact. What might this mean to Members as we move forward? Among other new endeavors, look for us to expand upon programs that engage visitors in looking carefully at, talking about, and getting more hands-on experience with our art and horticulture collections. This fall, we’re especially excited to be piloting a program specifically geared towards adults 55 and up called Creating Connections. The first installment of this new offering will be a 12-week course focused on building drawing skills. It will take inspiration from art on view, including work featured in Masayuki Koorida: Sculpture, and natural elements found throughout the grounds. Another unique multi-part studio workshop will use the work of Dina Wind as its starting point and offer an introduction to metals work with an emphasis on welding and assemblage. A partnership between GFS and The Seward Johnson Atelier, the program will take place on Wednesday evenings throughout November and early December. GFS is also thinking more about wellness and ways in which the garden and programs can serve to further enhance and encourage discussions on health and personal wellbeing. In addition to the fall season of our regular Wellness Walks program, we hope you’ll mark your calendars for the first of two upcoming Introduction to Herbalism classes on Saturday, October 20th. During the workshop, we’ll learn how to make ancient healing syrups called Oxymels.
In partnership with the Princeton Public Library, we are delighted to welcome acclaimed author Susan Orlean to GFS this October. Hailed as a “national treasure” by the Washington Post, Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992 and is the author of seven books, including Rin Tin Tin and The Orchid Thief. Orlean’s most recent work, The Library Book, reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history and delivers a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution--our libraries. $35 General Admission, includes park admission beginning at 4pm and a hardcover, signed edition of The Library Book.
GLASS BLOWN ORNAMENTS Friday, November 2; Saturday, November 3, or Saturday, November 17 from 10:30am-3:30pm Learn an old-world craft using Glaskolben tubes and torches.
AN EXTRA PERK FOR GFS MEMBERS THIS SEASON! This fall, GFS is pleased to partner with its friends at the Princeton Garden Theatre (PGT) on programs designed to highlight connections between each organization’s unique programming. On the following evenings, GFS members can attend select films at the PGT’s member price:
Tuesday, September 25: The Call of the Wild (1935) Wednesday, October 17: The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) Wednesday, November 14: Interstellar (2014) Tickets can be purchased online at princetontheatre.org or at the box office. Present your valid GFS membership card at the door. For more information, contact Michael Kamison, PGT Programming Director at mkamison@renewtheaters.org.
Of course, in addition to these programs, we’ve got a variety of tours, family workshops, performing arts events, and community programs also planned between September and December. To find out more about the full season, please check your Event Guides or visit our website often! We look forward to seeing you this fall.
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Michael Rees: Synthetics Cells Faith McClellan, Director of Collections & Exhibitions One thing that makes GFS unique among art museums is our willingness to step into the unknown and to push artists to create without boundaries, whether we have a blueprint on how to get there when we start, or not. One recent leap into the future of art experience is Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells, which is equal parts art, science fiction, and philosophy. A highly inventive and experimental artist, Rees developed the concept for this exhibition focusing on inflatable objects, which is a new medium for him. This project also marks the first time GFS has presented an exhibition that incorporates an augmented reality component into the visitor experience. For this project, taking the artist’s ideas from sketches to three-dimensional form required years of development. GFS Chief Curator, Tom Moran, began working with Rees in 2015 toward the evolution of Synthetic Cells. Several prototypes later, the exhibition opened on July 28 and will be on view in the West Gallery through July 14, 2019. Recognized internationally as one of the pioneers of new digital media, Michael Rees is Professor of Sculpture and Digital Media at William Paterson University where he is also Director of the Center for New Art. In this exhibition, by creating complex, transparent, sculptural forms, Rees is pushing against the
Michael Rees, Synth Cell 006 Gradient Clown, Ant, 2017-2018, air-inflated PVC vinyl, ink jet print on vinyl, steel, augmented reality, 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 meters, On Loan from the Artist, photo: Ken Ek
idea of sculpture as a solid object, an idea which he expands upon by layering in experiences for viewers which cross into the virtual world. Photographic images and designs, applied to the vinyl skin of the inflated forms and the walls in the gallery, become triggers for an augmented reality experience. These augments can be discovered by pointing a tablet (available in the gallery) at the images. The real scene combines with the virtual as the visitor looks through the tablet. Rees has described the scenes generated in the augmented landscape as “a collision of utopias.”
Installation view of Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells, 2018, dimensions variable, vinyl, steel, cable, augmented reality, On Loan from the Artist, photo: Ken Ek
Michael Rees also invited other artists to participate in this project. Found within the augmented reality portion of Synthetic Cells is a second exhibition, Para(Site), which was guest curated by the founders of the Moving Image, Murat Orozobekov and Edward Winkleman. The first artists in this two-part series include Claudia Hart, Chris Manzione and Will Pappenheimer. A second body of work, created by artists John Craig Freeman, Carla Gannis, and Tamiko Thiel, will be on view in the fall.
Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells is funded in part by the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation and the following exhibitions supporters: Gordon and Lulie Gund.
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James Carl: oof James Carl: woof Faith McClellan, Director of Collections & Exhibitions The East Gallery and the Domestic Arts Building are home to two simultaneous exhibitions featuring works by Canadian artist James Carl. James Carl: oof is a sitespecific, large scale wall relief, inspired by the geometry of the commercial egg carton. The title alludes simultaneously to the visual power of the piece and to the French word for egg, “oeuf.” From far away the work reads as a patterned graphic element with punches of negative space connecting each form. However, a closer look reveals the enlarged egg carton shape that was the source of Carl’s inspiration, both for its appearance and for its humble material. Carl embraced cardboard in his artmaking practice as early as the 1990s, as both a readily available consumer product, but also one that allowed him the ability to make versatile and substantial creations. He is an artist who playfully layers constructions of meaning and historical references into his work as carefully as he constructs the works themselves. With oof, he is conscious that his material choice and his Minimalist design reference the works of artists who have come before him, such as The Carboards constructed by Robert Rauschenberg in the 1970s. In a further reference to his artistic antecedents, Carl has designed a free-standing sculpture for this exhibition, Turnpike Pavilion, as an homage to pioneering Minimalist sculptor Tony Smith. James Carl: woof in the Domestic Arts Building features works from the artist’s Jalousie series. “Woof” defined by Merriam-Webster as both a “woven fabric” as well as “a basic or an essential element or material” alludes to Carl’s weaving process used to create these sculptural forms (and perhaps also to deft weaving of meaning?). Working with venetian blinds, Carl meticulously constructs three-dimensional objects employing a mathematical pattern. Inspired initially by the construction of a simple bamboo basket, Carl researched the geometries of the triaxial weave, noted for its strength and material economy. There is also an anthropomorphic quality to these works, which makes them feel like a second cousin to Henry Moore’s abstracted figures. The patterns of negative spaces revealed in these works are reminiscent of the same enlarged spaces found within the wall of Carl’s East Gallery project. And one could also compare Carl’s material choice in these works and the idea of creating a form that is both solid and transparent (using a material designed to both reveal and conceal) to Michael Rees’ similar exploration with material in the West Gallery. Both artists are providing viewers with an opportunity to examine their own experience with “space.” Based in Toronto, James Carl is currently an Associate Professor of Studio Art at the University of Guelph. He received his Master’s in Fine Arts from Rutgers University and has additional degrees from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, McGill University in Montreal, and the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing. Top right: Detail from installation in progress of James Carl: oof, 2018, photo: Faith McClellan Middle right: James Carl, jalousie (13.3), 2013, venetian blinds, 72 x 60 x 32 inches, Courtesy of the Artist and TrépanierBaer Gallery, Calgary, Canada Bottom right: Detail of James Carl, jalousie (13.3)
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Installation in progress by The Seward Johnson Atelier of Dina Wind, Harp of David #1, 1985/2018, steel, 26 x 24 x 22 feet, Courtesy of the Dina Wind Art Foundation, photo: Ken Ek
On July 16, 2018 the 26-foot high enlargement of the Dina Wind sculpture Harp of David #1 was installed on the grounds. This epic moment was the culminating finish on a project that began in 2017. With the excellent teamwork of The Seward Johnson Atelier and C.M. Worrall, Inc., the monumental sculpture was safely moved from the fabrication bay at the Johnson Atelier to its new home at GFS. Through the generous sponsorship of the Dina Wind Art Foundation, this sculpture is intended to become part of the Grounds For Sculpture collection.
MEET THE STAFF
Later this season, visitors can learn more about how this sculpture was made from a small exhibition on view in the Welcome Center. The exhibition will include the original Harp of David #1 made from found objects, a documentary video, as well as behind the scenes images and other information detailing the project. After viewing the monumental work outdoors, this space will offer the opportunity to gain deeper insight into who Dina Wind was, as well as to commemorate the continued partnership between Grounds For Sculpture and The Seward Johnson Atelier that has supported the work of contemporary artists for over 25 years.
GFS welcomed new Horticulturist, Janis Napoli, in May 2018. Janis has lived in South Jersey all her life. She has been growing and propagating plants since she was a teen. She earned her degree in Horticulture and trained at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where she worked before managing the horticulture department at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Before coming to GFS, Janis spent the last year at Snug Harbor Botanical Garden in Staten Island gardening in the NY Chinese Scholar Garden, Rose Garden and Annual Garden. Janis has taught the Woody Landscape ID course in Brooklyn Botanic’s certificate program for several years and is currently instructor for the site assessment portion of its Urban Garden Maintenance course.
Akshay Dargan, Executive Assistant, joined the GFS staff in June of 2018. His past experience includes project analysis in the financial sector and managing operations for a fine cheese and butcher counter. He earned a BA in Cognitive Psychology from The College of New Jersey with honors. In his free time Akshay enjoys cooking, movies, environmentalism, and spending time with his very handsome cat.
Julio Enrique Badel, Manager of Experiential Programs, joined Grounds For Sculpture in August having most recently worked with Precita Eyes Muralists in San Francisco and as Associate Director of Museum Education for the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, UC Davis. Julio holds a M.S. Ed in Leadership in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education, a BFA in Drawing & Painting from San Francisco State University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California. Originally from Long Beach, California Julio has also worked managing engagement programs at Abrons Arts Center in New York, and as an educator with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In 2012 his arts education practice transported him to Colombia to work with El Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín. Julio is currently working on his own artistic practice to record his family history through writings, drawings and found objects.
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