The green lawns and shaded copses of Laumeier Sculpture Park are the perfect destination for a sunny day in the city. Make your way past more than 70 contemporary works of art and sit down for lunch in one of the most cultured dining spots in the city!
Bequeathed to the city by the Laumeier family in 1968, the park’s museum and gardens stretch across 42 hectares of sprawling meadows, woods and winding footpaths. It is divided into 7 outdoor ‘galleries’, each with its own distinctive atmosphere. The family mansion at the northern end now houses an indoor gallery as well as a shop and a visitors’ centre where you can pick up maps and audio guides.
Make your way around the gardens at your own pace, stopping to admire anything that catches your eye. Many of the sculpture are tucked away in secret corners, just waiting for you to stumble across them. Others, such as Tony Tasset’s enormous eye, stand proudly in the open. Be sure to check out The Way, a bold red structure by Alex Liberman which was created from recycled oil tanks and recalls the gun decks of naval battleships.
Entry to the park is free and picnickers are welcome, so this is a great way to while away an afternoon. Kids will love the smaller Children’s Sculpture Garden to the south, where they can explore sculptures made from steel, stone and beautiful coloured glass as well as a cute model ship.
Art lovers may want to make a day of it by booking on to a tour led by a knowledgeable guide. For a few dollars more, you can view the sculptures from the comfort of a golf buggy. Tours need to be booked in advance, so be sure to head to the museum’s website when you’re planning your trip.
Laumeier Sculpture Park has free parking and can be reached by bus from Sunset Hills Shopping Mall, just under a kilometre away.
