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All the United States California Woodside Djerassi Ranch

Djerassi Ranch

Successful artist residence program has filled this ranch with dozens of sculptures over the years.

Woodside, California

Added By
joel
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Estaciones de Luz by Mark Reeves, 1988. (Stella Hwang/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/trustella/287...
Estaciones de Luz by Mark Reeves, 1988. (Stella Hwang/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/trustella/287...
State Certified Facts by James Chinneck, 1999. (Bridget Lewis/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridgetnikole...
Sylvan Steps by David Nash, 1987. (Bridget Lewis/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridgetnikole...
Dialog by Roland Mayer, 2004. (Scott Ashkenaz/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/smashz/265911...
Estaciones de Luz by Mark Reeves, 1988. (Rick Shinozaki/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/74426772@N00/...
Orpheus Coyote and other friends, William King. (Scott Ashkenaz/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/smashz/265828...
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About

Djerassi Ranch, located in the Santa Cruz mountains, is home to an artist resident program that provides free one-month residencies to artists of all mediums. The program has hosted over 1,700 residences since it was started in 1979 by chemist and writer Carl Djerassi (best known as co-creator of the first oral contraceptive pill).

The private 580-acre ranch is best known for the many sculptures that residents have created through the years. The sculptures often use nature as a key element in the works, responding to the surrounding landscape and emphasizing the relationship between nature and art.

Estaciones de Luz is a "labyrinthine architectural sculpture" and is one of the ranch’s more impressive works. The sculpture “can only be entered by traversing a winding tunnel in absolute darkness," according to Djerassi's official website. "The circular space at the center is remarkably tranquil and quiet, the space having been designed to reflect sound back into itself." This center space is even used on occasion for musical performances.

Today there are approximately 50 sculptures on the ranch, and many are available for view in the two public tours that are offered between April and October. The 4 1/2 hour “Director’s Tour” visits over half of the sculptures as well as the artist’s barn for $50 ($40 for members). And the free two-mile, tour last for 2 1/2 hours and visits 15 sculptures. Reservations are required for both.

Related Tags

Outsider Art Sculptures Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Architecture

Know Before You Go

From I-280, take 84-W to CA-35-N, and turn left onto Bear Gulch Road.

Community Contributors

Added By

leiris

Published

February 6, 2011

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Sources
  • Djerassi Program: http://www.djerassi.org/index.html
  • Wikipedia: Carl Djerassi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Djerassi
  • Natural Architecture, Alessandro Rocca
Djerassi Ranch
2325 Bear Gulch Road
Woodside, California, 94062
United States
37.363304, -122.302629
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Photo of Woodside

Woodside

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