Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, Los Angeles

I visited the Franklin D. Murphy sculpture garden at UCLA about two weeks ago. UCLA’s third chancellor, Franklin Murphy, believed that people would enjoy the works the most if they were a part of their daily lives. The garden, spanning over five acres, is rather expansive for an on-campus exhibition. Constructed in 1967, the outdoor exposition houses more than seventy pieces of art, including works from the famous Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, and David Smith. The types of sculptures present are diverse, including both figural and abstract designs. When you first enter the garden, you first notice how quiet and peaceful it is. The garden has the sculptures conveniently arranged so that one could easily navigate through all the works in a systematic way. Secondly, one notices how different the works of art are. There are abstract works as simple as Button Flower by Alexander Calder, which is composed of only three geometric shapes, and works more complicated, such as Standing Women by Gaston Lachaise, a lifelike representation of a woman. An especially creative work is Pensive, by Deborah Butterfield. This piece depicts what looks to be a skeletal-like horse made of wood, but upon closer examination, one realizes the material is actually metal. These are only a few of the many appealing works in the garden. There is a variety of reasons to visit the garden. Although some sculptures are basic, the pieces easily attract your attention. They are titled, but some are ambiguous on purpose, invoking imagination and thought. Perhaps one of the more compelling reasons for one to visit the sculpture garden is the fact that it is located in UCLA. After or before taking a short walk to the garden, you might consider touring the rest of the campus as well. The location is easy to reach, and, if you get lost, do not worry; there is always a friendly student willing to help.