The Gordon Sculpture Park

OVERVIEW

The Gordon Sculpture Park is an art immersion experience in nature on our 230 acre property in Monkton, VT. As you walk the land you pass by unique sculptures hidden among the trees and fields. As one of the community resources Willowell offers, the park is currently open to the public for walking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. We are in the process of making a map and wayfinding signs to make the land more accessible to the public.

This project is one way that Willowell connects people to the arts. Several school groups and community volunteers have helped out to make the project a success. One of our artists Marela Zacarías, during her four-week artist residency at Willowell, collaborated with eighty youth ages six to eighteen to develop her sculpture “Azimuth.” Students were elbow deep in paint as they helped to repurpose a grain silo from Good Companion Farm in Ferrisburg.

This blending of community allowed youth to engage with mentors while fostering an enthusiasm for the arts and generating awareness of Vermont’s heritage. Matt Schlein, founder and executive director of Willowell, believes that “Marela’s design and concept of the piece, blending notions around time, nature, pre-Colombian design motifs, and Vermont’s agrarian history, will continue to inspire and promote a sense of place long after the residency concluded in 2012.”  There are several other compelling art sculptures on the land.  We encourage you to come and explore.

Seven Days wrote up an article highlighting the major artworks at Willowell.  A link to that article can be found here. 

If you are an artist interested in having work at The Gordon Sculpture Park please contact us at info@willowell.org. 

Visiting The park

1) Map:

You will be best served if you use the pdf map of the Willowell Foundation land - Gordon Sculpture Park to navigate and orient. The sculpture park continues to evolve. Rely on the map to navigate the land while poised for new sculptures to emerge from the land as you explore.

2) Getting here:

Please park in our parking area at Stoney Meadow Lane and hike down the edible garden pathway (left of the gravel road), stay left at the fork on the trail at the bottom of the hill, continue on to our outdoor education campuses to be greeted by the first of many original art works. When you come to the fire pit at the mouth of the meadow you will see the Artist Cabin which is linked to grass paths and sculptures throughout the landscape.

3) Preparing for Your Visit:

Bring what you need with you including sturdy walking shoes, drinking water, and weather appropriate clothing with your sense of curiosity to explore. For your enjoyment, there are shaded and sunny areas for picnics throughout the park.

4) We encourage Leave No Trace practices on the land:

Plan Ahead & Prepare, Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces,

Dispose of Waste Properly/Pack In-Pack Out, Leave What You Find,

Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, Be Considerate of Other Visitors

5) Land Use & Park Hours:

The Gordon Sculpture Park is a curated venue open to the public year round during the daylight hours outside of The Willowell Foundation’s operating program hours 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday. Access may be limited during selected weekend programming, as well. The Willowell Foundation offers diverse programming including schools and camps who share the land. These experiences are enriched by the community garden and sculpture park which use a variety of buildings including yurts, cabins and amphitheater. Access to all buildings is prohibited unless engaged in a guided tour or event. At the fork in the road at the bottom of the wild edible path and gravel road, we have a path to the Tree of Life Farm and homesteaders with whom we share the land - we ask all visitors to respect their privacy.

We hope this tour is helpful to you. To learn more about the Gordon Sculpture Park and associated programming, reach out to info@Willowell.org.

Wishing you an inspiring and rejuvenating walk ~

Click here to download and print this walking guide.