Adventures in Stone: Brookgreen Gardens – July/Aug 2000

There is in South Carolina a sculpture garden that apparently is known by few of my fellow sculptors in the West. Brookgreen Gardens was founded in 1931 by Archer Milton Huntington, a railroad magnate, and Anna Hyatt Huntington, his wife, sculptor. The sculpture collection consists of over 500 pieces in stone and metal of figurative work by American sculptors displayed in a 300 acre botanical garden of over 2000 native and adapted species. I have chosen several works to illustrate the range and variety of stone sculpture in the collection.

Brookgreen is located on the coast of South Carolina about 15 miles south of Myrtle Beach between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island. The formal gardens are delineated by brick paths and serpentine brick walls laid out in the plan of a butterfly with outstretched wings. Outdoor sculpture is displayed in niches, on masonry pedestals, and in and around numerous reflecting pools, all framed and accented by spectacular botanical displays including ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Smaller pieces are housed in covered and indoor display areas. The gardens are open every day except Christmas and are a delight to return to throughout the seasons. Moonlight walks are scheduled on summer evenings.

This is not a display to rush through; even the layout precludes any rapid linear walkthrough. This is a garden to be enjoyed leisurely, meandering with its many twists and turns, making discoveries from multiple viewpoints of sculptures ranging from miniatures to truly monumental. I returned to many pieces throughout the day to savor their aspects in changing sun and shade.

At present 241 sculptors are represented including the famous such as Gutzon Borglum, Daniel Chester French, Malvina Hoffman, Paul Manship and Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the perhaps lesser known (at least in our time), such as Nathanial Choate, Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, Mario Korbel, Frederick William MacMonnies, and Janet Scudder. Anna Hyatt Huntington was an accomplished animalier and many of her pieces in metal are displayed, including some of the first large scale works ever cast in aluminum.

The largest portion of the collection was developed in the decades between 1930 and 1960 during a period of intense artistic turmoil amongst various schools and movements of figurative and abstract art. The Huntington’s preference was firmly fixed in realism and their initial installations and continuing acquisitions by Brookgreen Gardens reflect that preference. The collection has grown by purchases, commissions, gifts from artists, and copies cast or carved specifically for Brookgreen.

References for further reading:

Noble, J.V. and others, 1988, A century of American sculpture: Treasures from Brookgreen Gardens

Proske, B.G., 1936, Brookgreen Gardens, catalog of sculpture (out of print)

Proske, B.G., 1943, Brookgreen Gardens sculpture (out of print)

Proske, B.G., 1955, Brookgreen Gardens sculpture (out of print)

Proske, B.G., 1968, Brookgreen Gardens sculpture

Salmon, R.R., 1993, Brookgreen Gardens sculpture