Lynden Sculpture Garden

LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
Grand Opening Sunday, May 30, noon-5 pm

The Lynden Sculpture Garden opens to the public on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 12 noon-5 pm. The garden, formerly known as the Bradley Sculpture Garden, is located at 2145 West Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, WI 53217. Admission to the festivities is $5 (children under 6 free with an adult); this fee can be applied to the cost of an annual membership at the grand opening.

The Lynden Sculpture Garden offers a unique experience of art in nature through its collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland. The grand opening of the Lynden Sculpture Garden will include tours of the newly-renovated house, grounds and sculpture, performances, entertainment, and activities for the entire family.

Beginning June 2, the sculpture garden will be open to art and nature lovers of all ages on Wednesdays from 10 am to dusk and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5 pm. With the addition of a picnic area and bike racks, the sculpture garden is sure to become a destination for those seeking an oasis of calm within a short distance of downtown Milwaukee.

We expect Lynden will become a resource for the entire community and a place that people will return to frequently, whether its for a picnic on a Wednesday evening, a visit to one of our changing exhibitions or educational programs, or simply to enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons in the sculpture garden, says David Uihlein, president of the board.

Barbara Hepworth, Conversation with Magic Stones. Courtesy of Bowness, Hepworth Estate. Photo: Rick Ebbers/McDill Design.

Day membership is $9 for adults and $7 reduced (students, seniors, active military and children aged 6-17). Children under 6 are admitted free with an adult. There will be a docent-led tour of the sculpture collection each Sunday at 2:30 pm. The fee for the tour is $12 for adults and $8 reduced. This fee includes day membership in the Lynden Sculpture Garden. To reserve your spot on a Sunday tour, email the tour scheduler at tours@lyndensculpturegarden.org or call (414) 446-8481. Lynden will be closed July 4.

Annual membership ranges from $20 for students (with ID) to $60 for families. For more information on membership, which includes a free docent-led tour and discounts on workshops, classes and camps, as well as other benefits, visit lyndensculpturegarden.org.

Docent-led tours of the sculpture garden are available six days a week (no tours on Thursdays) beginning May 1. These tours must be arranged in advance; contact the tour scheduler for details.

The Lynden house and grounds were purchased in 1927 by industrialist Harry Bradley of the Allen-Bradley Company and his wife, Peg Bradley. The Bradleys retained the Chicago landscape architects William Langford and Theodore Moreau to transform the flat farmland, with its small farmhouse and barn, into an English country garden. The lake and rustic bridge spanning the water were designed to match Harry Bradleys memories of the municipal grounds in Kansas City where he swam as a boy.

Further plans to construct a botanical garden on the site were derailed by the outbreak of World War II. In 1962, Peg Bradley already an experienced art collector began collecting the contemporary monumental sculptures that secured Lyndens international reputation. She collected actively until her death in 1978, often inviting artists to Lynden to site their works. The collection includes sculptures by Alexander Archipenko, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Clement Meadmore, Marta Pan, Tony Smith, Mark di Suvero and many others.

The house has been transformed using sustainable building practices. The newly-created public spaces include a conference room, a large classroom/studio, a gallery and a glassed-in function space overlooking the large patio. The project was designed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. A large proportion of the existing structure was re-used or maintained, and more than 75% of the construction and demolition waste was recycled, re-used or otherwise diverted from landfills. Among the many sustainable features are a state-of-the-art geothermal heating system and pervious asphalt pavement that promotes drainage. Eco-sensitive landscaping includes the preservation of mature trees, the re-introduction of native species, and sustainable drainage and care strategies. The renovated residence is available as a conference and retreat center, and for event rentals.

Owned and operated by the Bradley Family Foundation, the Lynden Sculpture Garden is committed to promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of art, sculpture and the environment through the exhibition of art and sculpture, educational experiences and connections with the community. Educational programming will focus on the intersection of art and nature, providing hands-on experiences that integrate Lyndens collection of monumental outdoor sculpture with the natural ecology of the site. Summer art camps for children and teens begin June 17 and feature environmental programs, visits from exhibiting and performing artists, and the opportunity to explore a wide variety of art media in the art studio and outside art area.

Upcoming events and activities include artist-led tours of the sculpture garden, lectures and performances. Inside/Outside: Linda Wervey Vitamvas & Kevin Giese, the first in a series of exhibitions featuring the work of local artists, opens Sunday, June 27, 2010. By choosing Inside/Outside as an inaugural theme, we hope to initiate a dialogue between the new gallery and the environment (both sculpture and nature) beyond its walls; to explore Lyndens transition from a private, domestic space to a public space; and to define the sculpture gardens new position within the local and regional arts community. Inside/Outside exhibitions will alternate with exhibitions drawn from Lyndens extensive collection of paintings and works on paper.

Lynden Sculpture Garden | 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217 | 414.446.8794