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Public outdoor sculpture gardens hold an important place in
the American art world. The significance of these installations as a
cultural destination and a center of inspiration has only been rein-forced
in the past several months, as the pandemic forced most art
galleries and museums to shutter their doors.
One of the foremost examples in the nation is located within
easy driving distance of New Hanover County. Brookgreen
Gardens features more than 1,400 figurative sculptures on display
throughout 551 acres, accented by numerous water features and
connected by meandering pathways. Located just south of Myrtle
Beach in Murrells Inlet, the Gardens are certainly worth the trip.
While perfect for an art-studded hike on a sunny winter after-noon,
Brookgreen is unsurpassed in springtime, when most of the
paths are lined with flowers and rosebushes, specimen trees, and
ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss — many of which rival
the behemoth that forms the centerpiece at Airlie Gardens.
Many of the bronze, concrete, limestone and marble sculptures
were created around the end of the 19th century and the begin-ning
of the 20th century. The
gardens’ website features
high-quality photos depict-ing
the sculptures, and it is
worth a look before visiting.
But the works need to be seen
in person to be fully appreci-ated.
Otherwise, it is difficult
to grasp the scale, the atten-tion
to detail and realism,
and the effort and clarity that
went into every piece.
Most of the guidebooks
and online information state
that a few hours is enough to
experience Brookgreen, but it
could easily fill up an entire
day. The minutes can quickly
turn into hours at Brook-green,
as it is also home to a
zoo — one of the few accred-ited
zoos in the coastal Caro-linas
— hundreds of acres of
botanical gardens and nature
trails, an interactive walking
trail detailing the history of
the rice plantations on which
the gardens were built, and
a small gallery that houses
incredible miniaturized
artwork painted under a
microscope.
The gallery is perfect for
whiling away an hour or
so, especially if the weather
turns bad. It is a relaxing
experience to let the impor-tance
of time melt away while
contemplating the many
hours the artists spent on the
works.
BROOKGREEN GARDENS
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