Art Installation On Loan To Chester's Willowwood Arboretum

CHESTER, NJ — Public art is springing up all over Mendham and Chester, with the most recent installation at the Willowwood Arboretum.

The Living Sculpture is an art installation on loan from the Seward Johnson Atelier at the Willowwood Arboretum, located at 300 Longview Road, and will be on display until Nov. 15.

Seward Johnson, an artist and philanthropist, devoted his artistic career to creating sculptures of people going about their daily lives. He hoped that visitors would be delighted to find his lifelike sculptures placed unexpectedly, yet harmoniously, in the landscape.

Johnson's sculpture is not the only one at Willowwood Arboretum. Living sculptures include trees, shrubs, and flowers in the landscape and gardens. "It was Seward Johnson’s desire for his sculptures to delight and stimulate our senses while enhancing nature, the Morris County Park Commission said.

Johnson was born in New Jersey and pursued sculpture after briefly working as a painter. Since then, more than 450 of Johnson's realistic, life-sized, and/or large-scale bronze sculptures have been displayed in public and private settings around the world.

The Willowwood Arboretum is one of New Jersey's most comprehensive and longest-running arboretums. The public park, which is open seven days a week, features 136 acres of farmland and 3,500 varieties of native and exotic plants.

Willowwood also has a historic residence, which inspired the wrought iron gate, Pan's Garden statue, and gardens associated with the estate. Visitors can walk along paths dotted with evergreen, deciduous, field wildflowers, and ferns or relax in chairs scattered throughout the property.

Tickets for the Living Sculpture installation can be purchased here.

In the neighboring community of Mendham, two large stone sculptures were also installed in Pitney Park earlier this month.

"We are excited to take this first step in bringing public art to our community for enjoyment and education. During the installation, a number of residents stopped to take photos and expressed their approval at seeing art at Pitney Park." The Arts Council of the Mendhams President Laurie Pettine said.

According to officials, the art pieces will be on display for one year.

This project was spearheaded by the newly formed Arts Council of the Mendhams, with assistance from the county Morris Arts organization.