The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden at UCLA: A Fusion of Art, Nature, and Learning
The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) stands as a testament to the transformative power of art integrated into daily life. Dedicated in 1967 by UCLA’s third chancellor, Franklin D. Murphy, the garden is more than just a collection of sculptures; it is a carefully curated environment designed to foster learning, contemplation, and a deep appreciation for art and nature. Nestled on five acres between campus buildings, this sanctuary offers a unique escape from the rigors of academic life, inviting students, faculty, and visitors to immerse themselves in a world where art and nature intertwine seamlessly.
A Vision Realized: From Parking Lot to Verdant Haven
In 1960, when Franklin Murphy assumed the chancellorship, the area now occupied by the Sculpture Garden was a far cry from the serene landscape it is today. It was, in fact, a mundane parking lot, humorously referred to as the "Fair-weather Parking Lot" due to its tendency to become muddy after rainfall. However, Murphy, a cardiologist and professor of medicine with a keen interest in public art, envisioned something far grander: a verdant, landscaped sculpture garden that would serve as a haven of beauty and renewal for the UCLA community.
Inspired by his youthful travels in Europe, where he witnessed the impact of outdoor sculpture in public spaces, Murphy sought to create a similar environment at UCLA. He imagined a landscape of gentle mounds, winding paths, and strategically placed works of art that would stimulate thought, reflection, and a deeper engagement with the world around us.
Despite initial skepticism from the UC Regents, who viewed the project as an unnecessary extravagance, Murphy remained steadfast in his vision. He collaborated with UCLA’s supervising architect, Ralph D. Cornell, to bring his dream to life, meticulously planning the layout of the garden to create an edifying environment that fosters the learning process.
Design and Layout: A Tripartite Harmony
The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden is thoughtfully arranged in a tripartite plan, comprising three distinct zones that contribute to its overall harmony and appeal. These zones include:
Read also: Exploring Rodin in California
The Plaza: A formal brick plaza located in front of the Broad Art Center serves as a welcoming entrance to the garden, providing a sense of structure and order.
The Rolling Hills: Gently sloping hills create a sense of depth and visual interest, offering panoramic views of the surrounding campus.
The Long Alley: A north side’s long alley lined with South African coral trees adds a touch of exotic beauty to the landscape, providing shade and a sense of enclosure.
The garden's design carefully considers the placement of each sculpture, ensuring that it complements the surrounding landscape and contributes to the overall aesthetic experience. Murphy and Cornell even used true-to-life cutouts to model the placement of sculptures before their installation.
A Curated Collection: Masterpieces of the 19th and 20th Centuries
The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden boasts a remarkable collection of over 70 modern and contemporary works, representing a diverse range of styles, materials, and artistic expressions. The collection features works by internationally renowned artists, including:
Read also: Mathias Botanical Garden
Alexander Calder: Known for his innovative mobiles, Calder's kinetic sculptures add a sense of whimsy and movement to the garden.
Henry Moore: Moore's large, flowing figures evoke a sense of timelessness and human connection.
Auguste Rodin: A founder of modern sculpture, Rodin's realistic anatomical details capture the power and complexity of the human form. One of Rodin's sculptures in the garden is The Walking Man. It is a headless, armless male nude reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. The sculpture is gendered, with a masculine, repressed power one could assess from a critical angle.
Jean Arp: Arp's abstract forms invite viewers to engage with the sculptures on an intuitive level, stimulating their imaginations and encouraging personal interpretations.
Deborah Butterfield: Butterfield is an American sculptor known for her sculptures of horses, often made from found materials.
Read also: Gardening for Beginners
Barbara Hepworth: Hepworth's smooth, organic forms create a sense of serenity and harmony, inviting contemplation and reflection.
Jacques Lipchitz: Lipchitz's dynamic compositions convey a sense of energy and movement, capturing the vitality of the human spirit.
Isamu Noguchi: Noguchi's minimalist designs emphasize the beauty of natural materials, creating a sense of tranquility and connection to the earth.
David Smith: Smith's large metal pieces, such as Cubi XX, reflect the spirit of innovation and experimentation that characterized the mid-20th century art world.
Other artists featured in the garden include Émile-Antoine Bourdelle, Lynn Chadwick, Sorel Etrog, Eric Gill, Robert Graham, Gaston Lachaise, Anna Mahler, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Richard Serra.
The garden's collection is constantly evolving, with sculptures gaining popularity and recognition at different moments in time. As Cynthia Burlingham, the Hammer Museum deputy director of curatorial affairs, notes, sculptures by David Smith, Henri Matisse, Barbara Hepworth, and Anna Mahler have all experienced periods of heightened appreciation over the past five decades.
Interactive Art and the Student Experience
Beyond its impressive collection of sculptures, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden offers a unique opportunity for students to interact with art in a meaningful way. Unlike a traditional museum setting, the garden encourages visitors to engage with the sculptures on a personal level, whether by touching, walking around, or simply contemplating their forms.
One notable example of interactive art in the garden is Richard Serra’s “Torqued Ellipse UCLA,” a monumental sculpture made of COR-TEN steel. Its twisted, oval form invites students to step inside and experience the disorienting interior, challenging their perceptions and prompting them to reconsider their relationship to space and form.
The garden also serves as a versatile space for students to study, relax, and connect with nature. On any given day, one might find students journaling under the coral trees, taking graduation photos by the Rodin, or blasting jazz on a speaker while sketching for class. The open lawn provides a peaceful alternative to the crowded libraries and study halls, allowing students to unplug, de-stress, and find inspiration in the beauty of their surroundings.
A Sanctuary for All: Accessibility and Community Engagement
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden is its accessibility to the public. With no gates or open and closed hours, the garden welcomes visitors from all walks of life to explore its treasures and enjoy its tranquil atmosphere.
As Cynthia Burlingham emphasizes, the garden is "on campus for people at UCLA and in Los Angeles," offering a space for community engagement and artistic appreciation. Whether one is a seasoned art enthusiast or a casual passerby, the garden provides an opportunity to connect with art in a meaningful way, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.
The Hammer Museum's Stewardship: Preserving a Legacy
While the UCLA-owned collection was originally managed by the Wight Gallery, it is now overseen by the Hammer Museum, ensuring its continued preservation and accessibility for future generations. The Hammer Museum's curatorial expertise and commitment to education help to enrich the garden's offerings, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the sculptures and their historical context.
The Hammer Museum also plays a crucial role in maintaining the garden's delicate balance between landscape and art, ensuring that the sculptures remain in harmony with their natural surroundings. This requires careful attention to the garden's design, maintenance, and overall aesthetic appeal.
Contemporary Perspectives: Evolving Artistic Values
While the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden primarily features works from the 19th and 20th centuries, it also serves as a platform for contemporary artistic expression. By juxtaposing older works with more recent pieces, the garden highlights the evolution of artistic values and the changing role of sculpture in society.
As sculpture professor Hirsch Perlman notes, recent pieces, especially in the college environment, have become more political, reflecting students' growing interest in issues of identity, social justice, and political activism. This shift in focus is evident in the types of materials and themes that contemporary artists are exploring, often opting for more fragile, malleable materials such as plaster, resin, wood, and household materials, and addressing topics that are relevant to their lived experiences.
tags: #UCLA #sculpture #garden #artists
