Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Photo by Krenda |
I count my children fortunate to have lived near Hamilton, Ohio - (a small town north of Cincinnati). In 2000 the Ohio govenor declared Hamilton "The City of Sculpture". You'll find sculptures throughout the city. My kids and I especially enjoyed "Lentil" in the downtown. It's a sculpture of a boy marching through town with his harmonica and dog created by Nancy Schon. It's extra special because it has a local connection - it's based upon a 1940's children's book by Hamilton native Robert McCloskey. To see other sculptures around town, check out the Hamilton city website:
Lesson Idea
Find a sculpture park near you and discuss the artist and their inspiration to make the sculpture. You don't need to live near Hamilton to immerse your kids in sculpture. Here's five Sculpture Parks in the Midwest:
1. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park - Hamilton, OH (pictured above)
$8 adults, $2 children age 5-12
2. Laumeier Sculpture Park - St. Louis, MO, one of the first and largest in the U.S. with 60 sculptures on 105 acres, free and open daily
4. Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection - Wichita, Kansas
For sculpture parks in Illinois, see my article about The Sculpture Park Schaumburg.