Moving About the Dreamscape of DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA

Visiting the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts was like moving about in a colorful dreamscape that you want to linger in...that place you go just before waking. It is like having your spirit float off to a fun piece of paradise, along with people you would want to take along for the journey. On this excursion to that three-dimensional Neverland, it was my family.

We arrived late in the day, so we became acquainted with but a third of the sculptures displayed in this big, family-friendly park. The first sculpture we encountered was the one we parked next to, an eyeball sculpture named "Vision" by Lars-Erik Fisk . A short climb up a small hill brought us to meet a gentleman who helped build a funky looking green house with a window that zig-zagged down the side of it. It was a field station from which two researchers, named Metzgar and Bartow , studied the natural landscape features at multiple points in the park. We met Mr. Bartow, who was very friendly and informative, and takes pleasure in the work that he does. The house was being torn down that day and their findings will be exhibited in the museum this winter.

The third sculpture we encountered was "Jacob's Dream" by Isaac Witkin . We lingered near it to take photographs and to discuss the impressions that the sculpture made on each of us. After studying the shape visually, we felt its texture with our fingers, observed how it was rough in some places and smooth in others. At least one extension of it was shaped like a wing.

From there, we toured the rest of the park, lingering at sculptures that held meaning for us. The materials used to make the sculptures at De Cordova include iron, metal, sand, stone, pine cones, brick, and recycled odds and ends (such as tires, hub caps, fans, and faucet spigots). One that was rich in recyclables was painted yellow and named "Sunflowers for Vincent" by Mark di Suvero . Since I love van Gogh, a sculpture dedicated to his honor was nothing less than magical.

The sculptures that were made of natural materials were the ones that held my daughter and I close like magnets. We played in the sand at the bottom of the sand sculptures. We climbed up the hill beside the rocky terrain of "Rain Gates" by Ron Rudnicki . My daughter played the "Musical Fence" by Paul Matisse, and we danced around the ones that were made of pine cones. Under one pine tree was a gathering of pine cone people, called "Cones" by Ronald Gonzalez . A group of young artists made small pine cone sculpture ornaments that decorated the tree, which inspired my daughter to want to collect cones to make one of her own. In the meantime, my husband wandered off to shoot photos of some of the more abstract sculptures.

After my daughter climbed onto my husband's shoulders to check how they measured up to "Ozymandias" by Douglas Kornfeld , she tickled under the big, red armpit. From there, our last stop as a family was by the "Two Big Black Hearts" by Jim Dine . My daughter looked like such a peanut as she stood between the two hearts. There are enough cast iron items embedded in those hearts to intrigue the most curious humans for hours. The fancy shoe was delightful to my daughter and I. The coffee urn was a favorite of my husband.

As the shadows grew longer, the park began to close and it was time to bid the sculptures farewell. My family and I hope to return to De Cordova Sculpture Park to wander among the statues we did not encounter this time. We also hope to see a few of the indoor museum exhibits. We would also love to take a class or two at the museum school on the grounds. The store is compact, full of fun pieces and educational materials for young artists and scientists. The staff members we encountered walking around the park were very friendly and helpful. This sculpture park is a pleasure to visit and we plan to become members and make a habit of visiting often.

Copyright © 2010 by Seafarer Mama/Karen Szklany Gault