Friday, April 27, 2018

April 27, 2018 Hiking Through a Prairie at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park

I found this place while using Google Maps to find somewhere new to hike with my dogs. This is the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at Governor's State University in University Park, Illinois. There are over two dozen outdoor art sculptures on 100+ acres of prairie landscape on the campus here. So here's what me and the dogs saw today.

Illinois Landscape No.5 by John Henry

Maquette for Oscar's Inclination by Michael Dunbar

Untitled by Joel Shapiro

Falling Meteor by Jerry Peart

Oslo was mad because I wouldn't let him pee on any of the art work.

This is a nice walk around a couple of lakes and through prairies.

Frame by Richard Rezac

Flying Saucer by Jene Highstein

Paul by Tony Tasset

This was a huge Paul Bunyan.

Nola seemed afraid of Paul Bunyan. I think because it looked like a human, because she wasn't afraid of the other big sculptures.

Sisyphus' Aviary 1984 by Dan Yarbrough

From a distance it looks like a giant in the farm field.

The grass paths between the art exhibits.

There wasn't a clear direction to walking the grounds here so I doubled back to the Flying Saucer to follow a path in another direction.

Phoenix 1968 by Edvins Strautmanis

Oslo enjoying his stroll among the sculptures.


It was barely 60 degrees but very little shade along this hike, so these two really needed a drink. 

I'm guessing this was built so you could get another angle to view Bodark Arc.

Bodark Arc by Martin Puryear

This chair isn't listed as a piece of art but it looks like it should be. This row of trees must provide a nice shaded tunnel in the summer time.


The Granary Project 2007-2010 by Dan Peterman

Oslo wanted to play in the farm field. There was an egret walking in the distance along the tree line.

What's Not by Chakaia Booker

Icarus 1975 by Charles Ginnever

Prairie Plants by Mother Nature

Yes! for Lady Day 1968-69 by Mark Di Suvero


Oslo decided to rest here so we all rested here.


Nola freaking out from the echo in this concrete house. So I kept saying her name different ways and laughing.

Oslo loved the cool concrete and the shade.

House Divided by Bruce Nauman

It was a beautiful day to stroll through a prairie filled with art. 

Oslo wanted to stay so Nola and I left him.

He eventually came out to look for us.

This was an enjoyable place to visit. I did not see all the sculptures so I will have to check this place out again.


Wind Waves 2010 by Yvonne Domenge on the left and Illinois Landscape No.5 on the right.

No comments:

Post a Comment