Return to Grounds for Sculpture

Two evenings ago we went to Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ to see Klip Collective's Night Forms exhibit where the sculptures are transformed by lights and electronic music. I've often said Grounds for Sculpture is stunning in all seasons. I love seeing the trees bud in Spring, the bright sunshine in Summer, and the magnificent array of colors in Fall, but there is nothing like seeing everything covered in a fresh blanket of snow.

When we left the grounds on Saturday night Don felt the snow didn't add anything to the sculptures at night, but agreed they are transformed during the day. Being members means we can stop by for free anytime.

I thought it would be fun to share pictures of how they look in the day vs. how they look at night. We spent more time enjoying them at night with the music and the 4-5 minute changing light shows. The same sculptures were boring during the day. Others, though, were enhanced. When I can identify the artwork, I've included a link to their work on the Grounds for Sculpture website. In some cases, I cannot figure out the name. Apologies to the artists.

Dorion by Bruce Beasely

The Nine Muses by Carlos Dorrien

Arch II, Set II by Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas

The Oligarchs by Michelle Post

Memory by Masayuki Koorida

The Allee

A few more that were not part of Night Forms, but ones  I like seeing in the snow.

Giant George by Gordon Gund

Family Secret by J. Seward Johnson

Dejeuner deja vu by J. Seward Johnson

Ex-Halations by Linda Fleming

The Awakening by J. Seward Johnson

King Lear by J. Seward Johnson

God Bless America by J. Seward Johnson

Night Forms at Grounds for Sculpture -- 2024

Two years ago we saw Night Forms at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. The exhibit came back last winter. At the time I made a wish: I wish to visit Night Forms at Grounds for Sculpture following a snowstorm.

I live in New Jersey. That should be an easy wish to fulfill.

I hadn’t appreciated the wish had three caveats: it had to snow, it had to snow on a weekend, it had to only snow a little bit because too much snow would mean Grounds for Sculpture would would be forced to close for safety.

It did not snow at all last winter. It did not snow for 715 days in a row.

A few days ago, it snowed. On a Tuesday.

Yesterday it snowed. It snowed so much Grounds for Sculpture closed for the day.

That brings us to today. There was still snow on the ground from yesterday’s storm, and it is a Saturday.

I should have added in a fourth caveat: temperatures near freezing.

It was 20 degrees when we went, with a feels like temperature of 10!

We could have, should have planned a little better. We did wear snow boots, and pack our YakTrax (which were not needed). We should have worn more than one pair of socks. Had we thought of it, we would have stopped at Dollar Tree and picked up some hand warmers.

Staff and volunteers were enthusiastic about the small crowd who came. Though we arrived 10 minutes after the grounds opened, we were not the first people to say we came specifically because it snowed and we wanted to see the illuminated sculptures covered in show.

Night Forms is a light and sound show by Klip Collective uses the sculptures already in the park and adds lights and music. He uses music by indie and electronic artists to enhance the mood. There was one section between the soothing music and rhythmic flickering of lights I was being lulled into a Zombie-like state. I told Don I could fall asleep relaxing in that space. Trouble is, on a night like tonight I would die from hypothermia and never wake from the zone.

Some pictures of Night Forms in the snow. This is its last year.

These were not working when we arrived

My favorite is Froghead Rainbow because of how well the music is timed to the amphitheater seats. It feels as if a maestro is conducting the rocks. We watched the four-to-five-minute loop several times.

Deferring to the cold, we stopped in the café for hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie (clearly chocolate has restorative powers). We then returned for one final look.

A guard we befriended earlier that night saw us after our fortification asked if we noticed the joystick that controlled the lights on a specific sculpture. We had not. It was on the far side of the sculpture. When we got there someone else was using it. He told them a specific pattern to use and (he swears) that motion controlled the action. I can’t say I noticed anything. Don gave it a try. I suppose I should have, too, but had lost interest by then.

A surprise piece of entertainment was watching the peacocks fly between trees as they tried to figure out the best place to sleep. Nighty night, peacocks.

On the drive home, neither of us could say the snow enhanced the experience. In daytime the entire place is transformed by snow, but at night, the light show is the light show, only much, much colder.

However, the next day, warmly seated in the family room looking at my pictures, I am so glad we went on that cold, snow-filled night. The snow gave the ground a rippled, snowy look, and I did like taking pictures of the lights on the icicles.

My favorite picture that night

2024 Resolutions

We are ten days into the New Year. Time for me to commit to the resolutions I have been mulling over for the past couple of weeks. I have been thinking about them for so long I'm actually making progress on some of them.

1) Celebrate more! Invite people over to help us celebrate.

In the past two weeks we have had three parties: dad's 80th, Ashley's friends over for New Year's Eve, and Don's 60th. While I don't want to have a party a week, I do want to celebrate Ashley's graduation and my 55th birthday with parties, as well as other celebrations as they happen.

2) Learn how to dance on roller skates.

This was one of my unfulfilled goals for 2023. Jaclyn is working to put together classes. When I started to join her groups, I felt I was at the intermediate level -- after all, I could stay upright. As I watched people move as if they were born wearing skates, and realizing my greatest talent is moving forward, I knocked myself down to the beginner level. There is much for me to learn.

3) Go out with other couples.

Don and I started this last year. I'd like to make it a goal to happen at least 12 times this year -- once a month.

4) Learn how to use the settings on my camera to take better pictures with more intentionality.

I am planning to sign up and take a class at the Princeton Adult School in an effort to achieve this goal.

5) Visit at least one country new to me. 

Last year I traveled to New Zealand and Australia, countries that were not on my list in January. I'm excited to see where 2024 takes me.

6) Take a trip by myself.

My Vision Board shows a desire to travel. At least one of those trips needs to be alone.

7) Participate in a race over 5K. 

My dream race is still the 10-mile Paris to Versailles race in September.

8) Brainstorm writing a book.

I don't know what kind of book, so I'm starting with brainstorming ideas. For the month of January, I want to write 500 words a day about ideas that might lead to a book.

9) Learn Canva, or some other graphic design program.

I don't know why creating images, memes, etc. intimidates me, but they do. I also recognize having this skill would help me create content.

10) Take a class at Rider.

Registration is this week.

11) Explore teaching ESL.

Through the church or internationally, meet international people and converse with them.

I'm still missing 2024 Resolutions / Goals / Wishes related to professional growth. Last year I left my job, and have no idea what direction I should take to fill that gap. This might change in the next couple of weeks.

Vision Board

I created a Vision Board today. 

Maybe that's not the real story. I accepted an invitation to create a Vision Board and actually did it!

That's probably more accurate.

Over the years I have heard the term "vision board," but I shied away. 

Too much arts and crafts.

I didn't want to cut up magazines.

I had nothing to really say.

It is not my thing.

As I enter 2024 I am trying to figure out what direction to follow. Don and I both left our jobs in 2023 -- me by choice, his not as much. Since October we've both been floundering.

Today Marge offered two shifts: noon and 5 pm. I went with the noon time, though I was invited to return at 5 pm. Due to a variety of reasons, I ended up being the only one, which meant I had the rare treat of Marge's calming and reassuring presence.

She put out a bunch of magazines and old catalogues, scissors, tape, glue, different size and colors of paper and worked alongside me. She focused on words for this year's board (she does one every year) and said at tonight's session she'll look for pictures. As I was finishing up cutting out thoughts, Marge brought out a Viking Cruise Lines booklet because she knows I want to travel. I left with a finished board, and pictures and paper to make a companion board.

Marge also filled me with encouragement and the wisdom that comes from looking from the outside in. Much needed and much appreciated.

Her board was filled with words to encourage others. To connect others.

Mine was filled with traveling and seeing the world. There are a couple of other pictures I am surprised did not make it. Once Marge said she had to leave in ten minutes (how did 90 minutes fly by that quickly?), I went with gut instinct over careful thought. She praised my creativity -- a trait I don't think of when I think of my talents.

Let's see where 2024 takes all of us!

Happy Birthday, Don

We celebrated Don's 60th birthday with an impromptu party surrounded by friends and family.

Anyone whose birthday falls within a couple of weeks of Christmas will complain at some point that they feel their birthday is ignored. That they are told their Christmas gift is also a birthday gift. Having a dad whose birthday is the day after Christmas (and always celebrated because it is a time of year when the whole family gathers), I know the concern well. This being a milestone birthday, I asked Don how he wanted to celebrate. We weren't coming up with a good plan until a random text conversation with a friend sparked a winning idea: we'll invite people over and ask them to bring a pint of ice cream to help us celebrate -- no gifts, just the ice cream.

We pitched the idea to 21-year-old Ashley who added a beer tasting to the event. In her opinion, not everyone likes ice cream (I know, who are those people?). She also recognizes not everyone likes beer, but between the two options, people should like something.

Invitations were sent via text, email, Facebook messenger, carrier pigeon, etc. Then we watched the forecast -- it might snow, it might not snow, it might snow the next day. It didn't snow, so we had the party as planned.

Friends and family from all stages of Don's life ... ranging from CM who rented a room from Don before I met him up to Ashley's girlfriend (Anna) and her parents who only met us a couple of years ago. Friends from college, church, volunteering, and work. Most said yes. Some said, rain check. It was just the right combination of friends.

Extra beer was sent back to school with Ashley. Extra ice cream is still being consumed a month later.

On Don's actual birthday I gave him a (fake) Lego made to look like him.

Silvia and Clint

Stephen and Katie

Wunder-Pope Family

Jean

Princesses of Dorway
(Inside joke)

Manny

On his actual birthday, Don and I went out to dinner at True Food by King of Prussia Mall. Unfortunately, the mall closed at 8 pm and we didn't have a chance to go in any stores, though we did walk around the mall.

Happy Birthday, Don!