Woodmere Art Museum unveils new landscape

Posted 5/25/23

Woodmere Art Museum celebrated the completion of its landscape project in Woodmere's Outdoor Wonder (WOW).

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Woodmere Art Museum unveils new landscape

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Woodmere Art Museum celebrated a significant milestone with the completion of its landscape project in Woodmere's Outdoor Wonder (WOW), hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a vibrant crowd of supporters, friends and neighbors. Funded in part by the William B. Dietrich Foundation, the project included an expanded pollinator garden, two new statues by renowned artist Walter Erlebacher, a widened rot-road path with ADA-compliance for classroom access, and a nature-based amphitheater.

Now taking center stage in WOW is The Frances M. Maguire Outdoor Classroom, generously sponsored by the Maguire Foundation. The enhancements were further supported by Representative Chris Rabb and Senator Art Haywood, who secured additional funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Internationally acclaimed landscape architecture firm, Andropogon Associates, oversaw the project's design, blending the new features seamlessly with the existing 19th-century monumental estate trees, sculptures by prominent artists, and innovative stormwater-management systems like bioswales and step pools.

At the ceremony, William Valerio, Ph.D., The Patricia Van Burgh Allison Director and CEO of Woodmere, extended heartfelt thanks to all involved, singling out Megan Maguire Nicoletti of the Maguire Foundation, John Soroko representing the William B. Dietrich Foundation, and Woodmere's Board President, James Alexandre.

With its newly enhanced features, WOW continues to serve as an experiential outdoor sculpture exhibition, intertwining nature and art for visitors on the museum grounds.