Wildflower Sculpture Park

The Wildflower Sculpture Park was established in 2012 as a program of the South Mountain Conservancy in collaboration with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Its mission is to create meaningful arts and education experiences with and for the community through the installation, exhibition and interpretation of public art, primarily sculpture. Year round exhibitions of contemporary works of art sited in the natural environment are presented and added to on a rotating basis. In addition, educational programs for adults and children are offered in conjunction with the exhibits.

The Wildflower Sculpture Park is located in the South Mountain Reservation in Essex County, NJ, approximately 20 miles west of New York City. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitors should use the South Orange Avenue entrance to the reservation’s Crest Drive. There is adequate free parking in the lot adjacent to the Wildflower and Forest Preserve and the Dog Park (GPS location: 10 Bear Lane, Maplewood, NJ). Plan your visit by reviewing our map of 2021-2022 exhibits.

Participate

New for 2023-24

We encourage everyone to join the South Mountain Conservancy mailing list and indicate the Wildflower Sculpture Park as a special interest in order to be notified of upcoming exhibitions and programs. All artists interested in having their work considered for exhibition should join the mailing list and reach out to the curator. Doris Cacoilo, at sculpturepark@somocon.org. Please provide your name, contact info and link to your website.

Sarah Peters’ sculpture, the Botanical Fainting Couch, installed in the park until spring 2024, is our first piece that is interactive. Guests are welcome to sit or sprawl (but please do not stand!) on the couch and touch the many different plant textures that animate the surface. The couch utilizes the alphabet letters as the base on which she has embossed textures of 26 different plants. Each plant represented corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. See if you can identify them all! Sarah will have a fun activity available that all are welcome to participate in.

Lee Williams’ piece, Infinite Delicacies, reaches into the woods and highlights downed wood that is usually overlooked. Starting at the old stump by the entrance to the parking area, and continuing down the Crest Trail (in a northerly direction), you will find colorful wooden elements interacting with the decaying wood in a vibrant celebration of nature.

Envoi by John Clement

Support

The South Mountain Conservancy is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consider making a gift to the Wildflower Sculpture Park.