Visit Salt Lake City’s Oddly Amusing Gilgal Sculpture Garden
If you’re looking for a short walk, some art and a wonderfully weird experience you should check out Salt Lake’s Gilgal Sculpture Garden.
Near Salt Lake City’s famous Trolley Square, you’ll find the garden hidden between homes, businesses and apartment complexes. There should be plenty of street parking nearby but the garden is only a block from a stop on the Red Line UTA Trax line.
This area of Salt Lake around Trolley Square is one of my favorites, it has some of the hustle and bustle of downtown but also a classic, old city feel with plenty of history.
The historic garden was created by Thomas B. Child who created the garden to represent his deep felt spiritual beliefs. He began working on the sculpture garden in 1945.
At the Gilgal Sculpture Garden, they have some gorgeous flowers and trees but the real showstoppers are the rock sculptures (obviously) and the sculpture that will really stop you in your tracks in the one featuring Joseph Smith’s head on the body of a sphinx, yes, I am serious. You almost have to see it to believe it.
If you aren’t familiar with Utah’s dominant religion, Joseph Smith is the founder of the Mormon church. Among non-members his history is… questionable so the statue carries different value depending on who looks at it.
“The Sphinx” sculpture is the sculpture Child modeled the entire garden around. According to garden literature, the Sphinx represented Fairchild's belief that life’s biggest questions could not be answered through intellect but only faith.
Pro tip: Make sure to pick up some of the garden literature when you arrive at the gate, there is information about each piece, what they are made of and quotes from the sculptor about his inspiration.
There are religious verses written on many parts of the walking path, but if you aren’t into religious stuff, don’t worry the sculpture garden is great for anyone who loves interesting art.
“You don’t have to agree with me. You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity,” Child said of his creation.
Child was successful in making visitors think, that’s for sure.
The word Gilgal means “circle of sacred stones”. The sculpture garden features more than 70 carved stones. One of my favorite pieces was the human heart sculpture inside a cave with a hand reaching down grabbing it.
If you’ve got time, read the paving stones. There are quotes from multiple religious texts and greek philosophers. They will make you think, no matter your religion, or lack of, because some of them go hand in hand while others feel contradictory.
One last note, if you visit the garden, please be respectful and don’t touch the stone or climb over rope barriers.
Happy art browsing and thinking!