Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park facts for kids
Park entrance
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Thurston County, Washington |
| Type | Sculpture garden & art gallery |
The Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park is a cool outdoor art gallery. You can find it along the Chehalis Western Trail near Tenino. This park is in southern Thurston County, Washington.
A sculptor named Myrna Orsini opened the park in 1998. She wanted it to be "a gift to the community." The park is about 80 acres big and has many amazing sculpture gardens.
History of the Park
In 1992, Myrna Orsini visited art gatherings in Europe. After that, she and her business partner, Doris Coonrod, bought land for the park.
The park officially opened in 1998. It started with a special event where artists carved rocks. Thirteen artists from nine different countries came. These countries included Lithuania, Austria, Cuba, Italy, and Canada. Each artist gave one of their sculptures to the park's collection.
In the summer of 2011, the park faced some challenges. It was a nonprofit park, but it was going to close. This was due to health and money worries. The land was even put up for sale.
But in July 2011, a group of people stepped in to help. This group included the Woodland Trail Greenway Association and local leaders. They found temporary money to keep the park open. Volunteers also helped manage the park's outdoor areas. They all worked to find a long-term plan for the park.
After being closed for a little while, the park reopened in 2017. It is now known as a "primitive park."
What You Can See at Monarch
When the Monarch park was at its busiest, it had several cool areas. These included a fantasy garden and a butterfly garden. There was also a maze and a special area with sound sculptures. All of this was set in the partly forested countryside.
The park also had an indoor art gallery. By 2006, there were more than 100 sculptures on display.
By 2009, Monarch had a permanent collection of 28 artworks. Many artists gave their creations to the park. The park also showed 87 other works that were on loan. Artists from all over the world display their art here.
Some local artists whose work has been shown include Valentine Welman, Justin Hahn, and Tom Yody. The park's owner, Myrna Orsini, also has her art there. International artists like Urs Twellmann and Doug Neil have also shown their work. The park has also welcomed visiting artists such as Pat Warner.
Special Events and Activities
In the past, the park held workshops and classes. These classes helped people learn how to create art.
The park also hosted open houses called "Art in the Park." These were special art shows that happened every two years. Local artists could display and sell their artwork. These events also featured live music and dancing.
