Category: sculptures

Herb Mackey’s Metal Sculpture Yard (Salem, MA)

Date Of Visit: February 2, 2019

Location: 10 Blaney St, Salem, MA

Hours: The garden is able to be viewed any day at any time

Cost: Free

Parking: There is parking located at the Salem Wharf (just punch in the address above) and there is street parking available nearby

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Summary: A metal garden of sculptures, figures and other objects located at a home in Salem, MA.

IMG_3562

While there are many gardens in Salem. MA, the Herb Mackey Sculpture Garden located by the Salem Wharf is unlike any other garden you’ve ever seen.

You won’t find roses, tulips or daisies at this garden.  But, the garden is environmentally friendly.  Mackey makes all of his sculptures from recycled and reused materials.

If you’re lucky to show up when there people outside working you may get a tour of the garden.  I arrived too early for any tour.  And, if you do see Herb Mackey or any of his other workers during your visit you may be able to take a metal souvenir home, for a small fee.

Mackey doesn’t consider himself an “artist” though.  He is just having fun and his works are just a hobby.  A fun hobby at that.  You may not see his work in the local Peabody Essex Museum.  But, if you do make a detour from the commercially successful downtown area and make your way to Mackey’s Metal Garden you may see some more interesting art than you would at any museum.

 

Founders Park(Hingham, MA)

Date Of Visit: January 12, 2019

Location: intersection of South Street and North Street, Hingham, MA (about 30 mins southeast of Boston, MA and about 1 hour northeast of Providence, RI)

Hours: Accessible 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Parking: There is parking available at on the streets and a parking area near the park

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: benches to sit on, sculpture, plants and flowers

Summary: Founders Park in Hingham, MA, is a small sitting area with flowers and a sculpture

img_2859-2

Sometimes “hidden gems” are in plain sight.

While driving to Hull (more from that visit to be posted later), I almost drove right past this little park. But, eventually, I found it.

What the park lacks in size it makes up for in charm. With its benches and trees, plants and flowers this park is a wonderful place to sit and rest or contemplate.

Dedicated in 2008, Founder’s Park, Founder’s Park was constructed without the use of tax payer funds. After the MBTA Commuter Rail Tunnel that runs behind the area where the park is located, the the Garden Club of Hingham raised funds for the creation of the park. The Garden Club continues to care for the park.

The highlight of the park is the sculpture “A Bale of Turtles, a Croak of Frogs” by David Phillips. One of the details I noticed is that some turtles are bronze colored while others are green. I also like the little turtle trying to climb up the side of the rock.

Born on January 8, 1944 in Flint, Michigan, Phillips relocated to Cambridge MA in 1970. He has been an active participant in the New England art scene ever since. According to Phillips’s website, he has 13 sculptures dedicated to different parks and spaces in New England including this one. He has several more sculptures displayed throughout the states and abroad.

The one downside to the location of this park is the lack of parking. In fact, parking in general is fairly scarce in this area. Due to the narrow size of the road, there isn’t any street park allowed on South Street (the most direct route to the park) and, while there is parking allowed on some of the streets nearby it is sparse. There is a small parking area for patrons of a nearby shop (which is where I parked since I was only going to be there a short time). But, if you live nearby it would be a very good place to walk to and maybe take your pup.

Similar Places I’ve Visited:

911 Memorial Park (Westfield, MA)

Rotary Common Park (Nashua, NH)