I’ve recently come to the conclusion that maybe sculpture isn’t for me, as I mostly find myself muttering “What the…??” However, I’m making an exception for the works of J. Seward Johnson (1930-2020), a descendant of the Johnson & Johnson family.
His period pieces that bring Renoir and Monet paintings to life might have something to do with it, though as I said to Doug, I’m not sure if this is kitschy or good art, but I like it nonetheless.
Part of a scene from Johnson’s Dejeuner Déjà Vu, which was inspired by Edouard Manet’s Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe
In the background is Monet on a boat painting the river scene; in the foreground is Renoir painting Monet painting the river scene. Not pictured is Winston Churchill painting Renoir painting Monet, then Johnson himself painting all of that!
We had previously seen a sampling of Johnson’s work as temporary installation around Simsbury, Conn. The pieces are so very detailed, not just the items included in the sculptures, but the texture of clothes and scuffed soles of shoes.
There’s often humor to be found when the works are displayed, as well. The sketchbook in a sculpture of a girl drawing on a summer’s day will actually be of an otherwise unrelated sculpture a few dozen feet away.
Grounds For Sculpture is a 42-acre park on the grounds of the former Trenton Speedway in Hamilton, NJ, featuring a large number of J. Seward Johnson pieces, along with a fair number of other artists, primarily by friends of Johnson’s. It was founded in 1992, and has nearly 300 sculptures. It also has lovely landscaping and gardens.
There were lots of trees that created nooks, and you could often find something tucked away in one of them; an innocuous parting of the trees would lead to a recreation of a Manet painting. It felt as though it would be easy to miss many things! Many sculptures were incorporated into active areas, such as a table in an outdoor dining area that was actually a detailed sculpture.
This is one of the tables in a dining area. Check out the waiter in the background giving them side-eye! This piece was inspired by Edouard Manet’s painting Chez Pèré Lathuille.
The featured image at the top of this post is Seward’s hugeGod Bless America, inspired by Grant Wood’s iconic painting American Gothic.
The large dancing couple is Johnson’s A Turn of the Century is from Renoir’s Dance at Bougival. The painter seated at the base in Johnson’s Painting by the Glow of the Green Fairy is van Gogh painting the cafe scene beyond – inspired by van Gogh’s painting Café Terrace at Night!
Johnson’s Forever Marilyn, which starts with a base of an actual dress that was coated with resin to make a mold.
Part of Johnson’s series Celebrating the Familiar. She is reading a book of poetry, Captured by India Blake. I love the detailed sandals next to her!
Sumo by Ernest Shaw, but also the lovely landscaping!
A recreation of Monet’s famous gardens in Giverny, France, complete with green arched bridge, sweeping trees, and lily pads. (Our visit to Giverny a few years ago was one of our favorite travel experiences.)
What’s that through the trees over there? Johnson’s Testing Togetherness.
Damascus Gate by Walter Dusenberry.
My favorite was Johnson’s Were You Invited?, which is of course a recreation of Renoir’s wonderful Luncheon of the Boating Party. (We saw Renoir’s original in its home in Washington, D.C., a few years ago and were both stunned by it.) Around the back of Johnson’s version there are four more figures (not pictured, but see video below): sculptor Johnson with artists Bill Barrett, Red Grooms, and Andrzej Pitynski. They are asking the boating party if they are invited!
Johnson’s The Power of Exposure in the foreground. You can read the text of the pages in the magazines the ladies have. In the background is Johnson’s Daydream.
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