NEWS photo Terry Peters

THEMES for decorating formal gardens with
sculptures range from the grotesque, such as

argoyles, to the simple beauty of cherubs
fabeve).

THE use of garden statuary
in the Western world was
first developed by the Greeks
some 2,500 years ago.

That society's talented artists
created marble statues of heroes
and gods, many of which were
placed in villa and sanctuary gur-
dens. When the Romans eclipsed
the Greeks and became their nias-
ters it Was only natural they
should continue to create pieces
of artwork for their gardens.

So great was the demand for
statuary that Greek sculptors were
hired to make copies. The
Romans set up a thrising business
importing marble and metal stat-
ues front Greece.

As the Roman Empire expand-
ed and wealth poured into Rome
and the surrounding areas. mer-
chants aad politicians constructed

Statua

villas and walled gardens com-
plete with statuary. Our knowd-
edge of these gardens is quite pre-
cise because many of them have
been perfectly preserved under a
layer of volcanic ash. The best
examples are in Pompeii. an
Italian city buried in 79 A.D. by
the massive eruption of Vesuvius.

In the 17th and 18th centuries
the great, formal estate gardens of
Europe brought interior and exte-
rior statuary back to its ancient
prominence. Marble continued to
be the main material for sculpting
in the southem areas of Europe
but bronze and lead became
prominent in the northem areus
where light conditions were dif-
ferent. Metal statues withstood
the clernents and weather well.

There was no end of themes
for decorations in formal gardens.
They ranged from the grotesque.
such as gargoyles, to the beauty
of the human figure in alll its

Friday, May 10, 1996 — North Shore News ~ 93

Roy
Jonsson

\
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forms. Cheruhs und children con-
veving innocence and simplicity
were particularly popular.
Subjects of nature such as
stone fruit baskets. vases of flow-
ers, pine cones, acors and
pineapples were all used exten-
sively in div formal garden, ft was
ture for estate gardens not to have
vases. urns or fanterns displeved

on walls or pedestals.

Water features were often
combined with statuary by having
the water source flow from a car-
ried jug or the mouths of human
or animal figures. “Fo add humor
to the creation. some garden
designers installed intermittent
flows of water which would catch
the unwary observer by surprise.

Statuary was used in the formal
garden for many purposes. It pro-
vided a focal point. an accent. 4
point of interest or for the purpose
of marking corners or path inter-
sections and delineating avenues.
Entrance gates were often flanked
by large animal statues as though
permanently on guard.

With the move towards more

~ natural gardens in the 20th centu-

ry. styles changed and garden
statuary took on new dimension
and purpose. Today an appropri-
ate piece of statuary can provide a
contrast to the softness of leaves

and flowers. It can also define a
garden's character. A jupanese
lantern, an ftalian terra cotta um
ora smal! totem pole will empha-
size the nature of a garden.

Statues can add to the mytii-
cal nature of gardens and be espe-
cially appealing to children. A
fomte, gnome or elf may give
special meaning to @ garden. Mo
can also pique one’s curiosity a
to what is around the next comer.

If you spend a great deal of
lime in the garden it is a logical
place to display an forms, partic-
ularly sculptures that will weather
and mature with time.

For people who are very tac-
tile. statuary offers a chance to
touch the flowing Jines and sur-
faces of polished stone or metal,
something one may feel reluctant
to do inside a home or gallery.

tn the stall home garden most

ry Statement

pieces of sculpture or artwork will
have some personal meaning to
the owner. There is usually a story
or some emotional attachment to
each piece. They become an inter-
esting conversation piece as well
as a highlight in the garden.

An excellent example of gar-
den statuary can be seen at the
home of Michael Binkley. one of
Canada's prominent young sculp-
tors. Binkley's original stone
sculptures have been designed to
weather the elements and enhance
any garden style.

The Garden Sculpture Show is
open from 10 am to 5 pm from
May 23 to 26 rain or shine at 535
East Ist St.. North Vancouver.

Binkley will be displaying a
wide variety of pieces and
Alleyne Cook will be present
from 12 to 3 on Saturday and
Sunday to answer your gardening
questions. Phone 984-8574 for
more information.

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