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Both House & Garden are an endless source of inspiration to the artist in everyone. In this edition, State of the Arts visits a sculptor whose house is a work of art, a couple whose palette is their gardens, a colonial estate that is a museum-in-progress, and the country garden setting of one of the wittiest plays ever written.
morven
Richard Stockton was an important 18th century attorney and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His wife, Annis Boudinot Stockton, was a prolific poet and the host of memorable parties. Their house was a showcase in its time, visited by George Washington and Joseph Bonaparte among others. After generations of Stocktons, the house became New Jersey's Governor's Mansion. Now, it's a museum - Morven Museum & Garden. State of the Arts producer Susan Wallner visited Morven at various stages in its historic renovation, and then returned in summer 2005 to see the now open museum, complete with Boudinot family antiques on display. Also included is a look at the ongoing restoration of Morven's extensive gardens.
 Read poems by Annis Boudinot Stockton
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Annis Boudinot Stockton
Morven Museum & Garden
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luna parc
Located in the lush northwestern woods of Montague, New Jersey, Luna Parc is a perpetual work-in-progress. Since 1989 the house and grounds have become an environmental sculpture park created and maintained by artist/designer Ricky Boscarino. Inside his surreal estate, Boscarino crafts stained glass windows enshrining woodland animal life, bracelets made of retired coins, and other jewelry featuring the likenesses of things like microscopic flatworms, human fetuses, wheelbarrows and espresso pots. State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa goes on location and explores all five offbeat acres of Luna Parc.
- where to see
luna parc,
semi-annual open house
june 20-22, 2008, 10-4 pm
22 degroat road,
sandyston, nj 07827
(973) 948-2160
www.lunaparc.com
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Luna Parc in Montague, NJ
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gardening neighbors
Silas Mountsier and Graeme Hardie of Nutley, New Jersey have been gardening together for more than a decade – in separate gardens across the street from one another. While their gardens couldn't be more different, the two men share the same love of plants, art, and architecture, not to mention a jointly designed streetscape that unifies the two properties. Hardie's garden is best described as a jungle, packed with ingeniously arranged tropical and perennial plants, large sculptures, and bold strokes of architecture. Mountsier's garden, which includes nearly 100 pieces of sculpture and historical artifacts, uses drifts of plants and pathways to lead the visitor to secret nooks and crannies. Both gardens were designed by Richard Hartlage, but each has its own unique personality. State of the Arts producer Amber Edwards visits the adjoining gardens and learns the inside story about Mountsier and Hardie’s creative partnership.
Learn more about designer Richard Hartlage
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A view of Silas Mountsier’s garden
A view of Graeme Hardie’s garden
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being earnest
State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz visits the set of Oscar Wilde’s most-loved comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, a headline production in the fall 2005 line up of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Directed by acclaimed 26-year-old British director, Tamara Harvey, the show featured Caralyn Kozlowski as Gwendolen, Gareth Saxe as John (and “Jack” / “Earnest”), Elena Shaddow as Cecily and Steve Wilson as Algernon. Much of the witty dialogue takes place in a lovely country garden, scene of a hilariously tangled web of alter egos and mistaken identities.
- also visit
shakespeare theatre of new jersey
36 madison ave., on the campus of drew university,
madison, nj
(973) 408 - 5600
www.njshakespeare.org
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Cecily and Gwendolen in “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Algie and Jack in “The Importance of Being Earnest”
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Preview
