Kingsbrae Garden Sculpture Competition in New Brunswick, Canada

First Kingsbrae Garden Sculpture Competition.

Close to the edge of the world lives a little community called St. Andrews. St. Andrews-by-the-sea. Actually, it is practically in the sea—a narrow peninsula that juts out right into the Atlantic Ocean. Twice a day the mighty, among the highest and fastest, tides in the world, seem willing to overrun this slim piece of ground. Slim and beautiful.

Hardly more than 1700 people live here. A tiny population which, as though by magic, swells to 2500 during the summer months.  There are reasons for this seemingly tidal swelling, and recently, a new reason has been added. It is called the Kingsbrae Garden—a horticultural masterpiece, nestled within the heart of St. Andrews. It is a strange, and strangely inviting, place. As I entered its gates, I immediately felt like Alice in Wonderland. The twenty-seven acres offers a beehive of activities, ranging from children parties to weddings, all hidden among mature cedar hedges, flower beds and an old-growth Acadian forest. Several grand old estates combined to create this unique environment. You can follow the paths through wondrous collections of some 50,000 flowers, shrubs and trees, see flitting images Van Gogh against to the genuine Dutch windmill, get lost in the cedar maze, amid sculptures, alpacas, peacocks, ducks, and… and there is so much more.

On June 13th, Kingsbrae Garden celebrated the opening their new Sculpture Garden. From among the many who submitted their work, seventeen sculptors have been chosen to take part in the First Kingsbrae Garden Sculpture Competition. The winner and the runner up will remain in permanent collection of the Garden. The season ends on October 10th. Until then, you can enjoy the works of my favorite sculptor, Bozena Happach. The only artist to be honored with displaying not just one, but two exhibits.