The fire-breathing dragon was not breathing its fire on this wet day, yet Three Sisters Sanctuary managed to impress, and no amount of rain was going to hustle me through this outdoor art space.
If Opus 40 and Wild Bill’s had a love child, Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, Massachusetts might be it.
Before even leaving the parking lot, you can sense this place is different: the clean outhouse is thoughtfully tucked behind a bit of vegetation, adding a layer of privacy. Then, there’s the giant bicycle sculpture. Creative clutter. A tin man.
Between the Good Time Stove Co. building and environmental artist Richard M. Richardson’s house is the entrance to several acres of gardens and art installations.
What you see is a work that has been in progress for decades, with the addition of other artists’ sculptures. There’s cohesion here that seems missing in most indoor contemporary art galleries.
Parts of it are, yes, whimsical, but that hardly describes the landscape as a whole. It’s peaceful and playful. Sensitive.
The acres that the public can explore are surrounded by gorgeous wetlands and forest.
As you walk, frequently pause to see what is in other directions, hidden from initial view behind a tree or rock.
If you see something from a distance, move closer. Notice the details, like how a mighty bird in a birch tree is made of silverware.
The artist is not trained as such. He refers to himself as the curator and caretaker, more than as a creator.
Every inch of the grounds feels intentional, and it likely prompts the question that the unconventional or extraordinary get asked often: how do you find the time?
In a Travel Channel documentary, he explains: “I find the time because I have a passion for what I do.”
Experimentation and the willingness to fail are also at the heart of the sanctuary. Tinker until it comes together.
The “it” being mosaics and cairns, a labyrinth, 24 glacial erratics and 250 large standing stones, a butterfly garden. An infinity circle. There’s found and repurposed art. And then, there are the trinkets that visitors leave for the giant dragon.
It seems hard to leave Three Sisters Sanctuary without feeling inspired. It seems hard to leave Three Sisters Sanctuary, period. If It’s this engaging when the sun is nowhere to be found, imagine what it’s like when it’s dry enough to consider sitting on a bench and listening to nature for awhile.
Three Sisters Sanctuary
The fire-breathing dragon was not breathing its fire on this wet day, yet Three Sisters Sanctuary managed to impress, and no amount of rain was going to hustle me through this outdoor art space.
If Opus 40 and Wild Bill’s had a love child, Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, Massachusetts might be it.
Before even leaving the parking lot, you can sense this place is different: the clean outhouse is thoughtfully tucked behind a bit of vegetation, adding a layer of privacy. Then, there’s the giant bicycle sculpture. Creative clutter. A tin man.
Between the Good Time Stove Co. building and environmental artist Richard M. Richardson’s house is the entrance to several acres of gardens and art installations.
What you see is a work that has been in progress for decades, with the addition of other artists’ sculptures. There’s cohesion here that seems missing in most indoor contemporary art galleries.
Parts of it are, yes, whimsical, but that hardly describes the landscape as a whole. It’s peaceful and playful. Sensitive.
The acres that the public can explore are surrounded by gorgeous wetlands and forest.
As you walk, frequently pause to see what is in other directions, hidden from initial view behind a tree or rock.
If you see something from a distance, move closer. Notice the details, like how a mighty bird in a birch tree is made of silverware.
The artist is not trained as such. He refers to himself as the curator and caretaker, more than as a creator.
Every inch of the grounds feels intentional, and it likely prompts the question that the unconventional or extraordinary get asked often: how do you find the time?
In a Travel Channel documentary, he explains: “I find the time because I have a passion for what I do.”
Experimentation and the willingness to fail are also at the heart of the sanctuary. Tinker until it comes together.
The “it” being mosaics and cairns, a labyrinth, 24 glacial erratics and 250 large standing stones, a butterfly garden. An infinity circle. There’s found and repurposed art. And then, there are the trinkets that visitors leave for the giant dragon.
It seems hard to leave Three Sisters Sanctuary without feeling inspired. It seems hard to leave Three Sisters Sanctuary, period. If It’s this engaging when the sun is nowhere to be found, imagine what it’s like when it’s dry enough to consider sitting on a bench and listening to nature for awhile.
Three Sisters Sanctuary (188 Cape Street, Goshen, MA) is open daily 8 AM – 6 PM, year-round.
Pay online in advance or bring cash to tuck into a box as you let yourself through the gate. $10 suggested donation for adults; nobody turned away for inability to pay. People are welcome to eat in the picnic area on site.
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