Ornamental gardens and outdoor sculptures are a winning combination! Especially when the gardens are a beautiful blend of natural and nurtured landscapes and the sculptures are expertly made and thoughtfully positioned.
A recent visit, actually my second, to the Sculpture Garden at Cosby’s Garden Centre in Liverpool, Nova Scotia was a great reminder of that winning combo.
Ivan Higgins is the landscape designer and skilled sculptor behind this magical place. Higgins’ “natural abilities, knowledge, dedication and artistry have made his landscaping services at Cosby’s a success” states the Concrete Creations website. As the Sculpture Garden attests, “Ivan’s knowledge of plants and his talents as an artist transformed his landscapes into works of art”.
Check out this lovely vignette―foxgloves nestled among weathered logs―beautifully placed along a woodland path.
The floral and foliage vignettes tucked throughout the Sculpture Garden are enhanced by the drama, creativity and scale of Higgins’ sculptures.
Gardens and sculptures were also the topic of my previous blog post Sculpture Parks: Crafted Art + Crafted Nature. That title was inspired by a quote from the Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews, New Brunswick about “how crafted art and crafted nature can be joined for a beautiful and harmonious spectacle”. Beautiful, harmonious spectacles abound in Higgins’ Sculpture Garden.
Many of Higgins’ sculptures feature realistic, life-size male figures captured in energetic, athletic poses. The sculpture pictured below greets visitors as they enter the garden. Judging by the photos shared on social media, it is arguably the most photographed piece in the garden and definitely the most imitated pose.
Also found near the garden’s entrance is this elaborate piece featuring a group of tumblers, jugglers and acrobats performing in front of a group of bodyless faces.
Here’s a closer look at some of the details.
Visitors are invited to wander around the Sculpture Garden at their leisure. Many of Higgins’ outstanding sculptures are focal points along the wooded paths. Here a young man tips his hat and stretches his limbs inside a large round hoop.
To truly appreciate how realistically Higgins captured the form, proportions and details of his model, check out this photo from Instagram. The man mimicking the sculpture, Leon Gardiner, is a professional dancer who visited the Sculpture Garden a few years ago.
The Concrete Creations website explains “What is truly evident however, is his [Higgins’] passion for drawing which has made a natural transition from the abstract to the concrete-literally! Working with wire and concrete, he has perfected the technique and as a result has produced amazing sculptures.”
In the 2023 Saltscapes magazine article, Here Be Dragons, Jodi DeLong explains: “Ivan [Higgins] draws his sculpture ideas, then has people pose for many of the statues — sometimes mock poses, as most people can’t stand on their heads for too long. ‘I hire a lot of young people, who are quite athletic, as are my own kids, and they are often great models.’
Then he begins creating the form, using chicken wire to frame out the subject, before starting with concrete. These works must cure for a long time, hardening to durability.”
Evidence of Higgins’ process can be found throughout the garden if one looks closely. I spotted these amazing drawings in a corner of the greenhouse.
This sculpture of a seal was obviously still underway―the wire armature which has been partially filled and covered with concrete is visible.
Here’s a closer look.
Higgins began sculpting “in the 1990s, when he started making concrete troughs, wind god sculptures, and planters — things he could sell and move easily” writes DeLong.
“The planned garden began with the five life-sized gymnasts perpetually posed at the top of a ridge Ivan and his crew built in 2008.” Known as the Five Capoeiras, these figures demonstrate “capoeira” which is “an Afro-Brazilian martial art and game that includes elements of dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality” according to Wikipedia.
The Five Capoeiras were created in 2006 and, as noted on the Concrete Creations website, are “one of Ivan’s favourite creations as several of the young athletes depicted in the five sculptures were former employees at the Garden Centre.”
The Sculpture Garden is expansive with a web of trails and paths weaving through the forest. A variety of splendid sculptures serve as focal points along the well-maintained main path.
In the upper portion of the Sculpture Garden, a comedy/tragedy piece anchors the newly constructed amphitheater where small concerts and events are held occasionally.
Not all of Higgins’ sculptures are showcased along the main walking trail, several are tucked away along the narrower side paths and partially concealed among the rocks and trees. It’s great fun seeking and finding these hidden gems.
This peacock perched atop this massive boulder is a great example.
My favorite find was this young boy peeking out from among the tree trunks.
One of the great things about Cosby’s Garden Centre and Sculpture Garden is that it evolves and changes. There’s always something new to discover―whether it’s a new perspective on an existing sculpture, the beauty of the changing seasons or a new sculpture.
“Ivan hopes to place a new work of art here every year” promises the Concrete Creations website. “And true to his word, Ivan has added a new project this year. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Sculpture Garden regularly to see Ivan’s latest concrete creations and other changes to this unusual tourist destination.”
More Info
Previous blog posts mentioned in this blog post include:
. Sculpture Parks: Crafted Art + Crafted Nature.
Outdoor sculpture is also addressed in these previous blog posts:
. Sculpture for the Home Garden
. Thank You Anna Hyatt Huntington
. 10 Ways to Add Personality and Style with Garden Art
I thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Cosby’s Garden Centre and Sculpture Garden in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada and would not hesitate to recommend it. You can learn more on the Concrete Creations website or Instagram page.
The following articles were consulted in the writing of this blog post:
. Here Be Dragons 2023 Saltscapes article by Jodi DeLong
. Various Wikipedia entries.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Gardens and sculptures are a winning combination.
2. Consider the possibilities of concrete as an art medium.
3. Seek out and support local artists.
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