Book Description

A Living Work of Art: The Norton Simon Museum Sculpture Garden tells the fascinating story of the evolution of the Museum property into the lush and inspiring garden it is today. After a rich history as a California landmark and art institution, the Museum and garden underwent a major renovation in the late 1990s under the direction of architect Frank Gehry. As part of the Museum's renovation, landscape designer Nancy Goslee Power reimagined the property, transforming it into a verdant park inspired by Monet's garden at Giverny. The spectacular pond and year-round palette of color delight visitors, as do the monumental sculptures that greet visitors at the entrance, and then surprise those exploring the meandering paths in the main garden: works by Aristide Maillol, Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Robert Rauschenberg, and others. The lower garden, with Indian and Cambodian sculptures, provides a contemplative backdrop for the Museum's South and Southeast Asian collection. Contents: Acknowledgments; Foreword; Introduction by Sally A. Swaney; The Garden by Nancy Goslee Power; American and European Sculpture by Leah Lehmbeck, Tom Norris and Gloria Williams Sander; Indian and Southeast Asian Sculpture by Melody Rod-ari; Selected Bibliography; Index; Image Credits and Permissions.