A Garden for Art. Valerie J. Fletcher. New York: Thames and Hudson,
(800-233-4830), 1998. Illus., softcover, 96 pp., $15.95
This book is more than just an overview of an adjunct to a museum.
The author begins by tracing the history of sculpture gardens back to
Egyptian Pharaohs (1480 BC) the Forum in Rome, temples in Central
America, Zen Buddhist rock gardens, and the Vatican's landscaped
Belvedere Courtyard, the first outdoor sculpture museum created in 1500.
More than sixty sculptures are reproduced in color, in addition to
numerous context photos. Both figurative and abstract works are
discussed and brief biographies of each sculptor, including Rodin,
Maillol, Matisse, de Kooning, Picasso, Calder, and Oldenburg are
presented. The section on abstract sculpture offers an informative
discussion of the biomorphism and fantasy noted in the works of Arp,
Moore, Hepworth, Miro and Lipschitz contrasted with the geometric and
rational constructions of Smith, Archipenko, Snelson and Kelly. This
lively overview of important sculpture and sculptors is recommended for
high school and university level students and instructors.
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