If you know where to look there is a secret sculpture garden — the Millennial Folk Arch and Art Enclave —at Lehigh University. I first heard about it in 1999 when Mr. Imagination was the artist in Residence at the Banana Factory.
I once tried to find it — Mom was in the car — but didn't. I didn't know it at the time but I was right there.
Then in 2013 Lydia and I went exploring and found it. We took her dog Adonis. At 12-years-old the sculptures were worn and the grass high. I think part of the intent was to have it return to nature.
During the height of lock-down my friend Pam and her husband wanted to get directions up there and I told them where to go. They found it. She told Lisa and Lisa wanted to go. We went today.
We met at Orasure and drove together to the garden. Then hiked up the path.
The enclave, begun in 1999 as a collaboration between the university and Mr. I the project spread over eight terms. Mr. I frequently worked with students, but Mr. I and the students are long gone.
At first glance it looked like it did in 2013. But on closer inspection its crumbling. Some of the cement has large holes and missing tiles. Things have crumbled. Things have disappeared. There's a lot of dog shit. And deer.
But it's still interesting. And unsettling. Because Mr. Imagination was one of the stars of 90s outside art, this could have been a show piece. A tourist spot like the Magic Garden in Philly. But now it's just trashed.
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