My destination for this mid-July 2020 trip was to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in the capital city of Richmond. However, arriving earlier than I expected, I took the opportunity to stroll the adjacent E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden until the History & Culture museum opened.
Approaching the sculpture garden, I passed along the lane which identified a nearby structure as the United Daughters of the Confederacy building with cannon carriages on the grounds. I was able to capture a few photos before security guards descended upon me and escorted me off the property. I learned later that a mob had tried to burn the building down during Black Lives Matter protests, though the building was made of solid granite.
The next imposing building on the way to the sculpture garden was the Robinson House which was a summer home built by Anthony Robinson and later sold to the Robert E. Lee Camp for Disabled Confederate Veterans. A third floor was added to the house to serve as a library and museum. I did not get a chance to visit the Robinson House but I understand it is free to the public.
The first sculpture I came upon was a work by Jun Kaneko that has been apparently relocated from elsewhere on the grounds to the entrance of a building. It is an untitled work of Dango ceramic though I have seen images that said it was called “Pin on Plates.” Jun Kaneko is an internationally renowned Japanese-American artist based in Omaha, Nebraska.
Local sculptor Paul DiPasquale was chosen from over 50 entries for his King Neptune work of art which is located below a long cascade waterfall and stairway. Many of you may have seen his iconic giant version of this statue gracing the shores of Virginia Beach. Climbing the stairway to the second stairway level is the Italian sculptor Sandro Chia's "Man and Vegetation" work in keeping with the garden theme.
At the bottom of the stairway is a small grove of trees where visitors were sitting in the shade on picnic tables having a snack. Since COVID, many had takeout orders from local deli’s and were keeping their distance. Under the small grove was another sculpture which looked like a stack of propellers which I have yet to uncover the title or sculptor.
Emerging from the shaded grove, were the two most spectacular pieces. In a nearby small pond were these red reeds bursting forth from the shallows. I had never seen these types of reeds and was very curious to know the species. Looking along the pond’s edge I found the answer on a plaque. The red reeds were blown glass sculptures by none other than Dale Chihuly.
The next work was my favorite. “Chloe,” a 24-foot-tall sculptural head created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Amazing in size and beauty which is mesmerizing and just causes you to freeze in place and stare.
The last sculpture of note is The River by French sculptor and painter Aristide Joseph Bonaventure Maillol with the original version on display in Paris.
The E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden is located at 200 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220 and is free to the public. Free parking can be found in the adjacent parking lot at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
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