Pulling up the driveway of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, you’re greeted by artwork after artwork spanning the front lawns. Many of these pieces are recent additions to the Park thanks to the new outdoor exhibition, Nature Sanctuary.
Original, site-inspired commissions and loans by six women artists—Venetia Dale, Kapwani Kiwanga, Joiri Minaya, Zohra Opoku, Kathy Ruttenberg, and Evelyn Rydz—express refuge, care, and the shared protective relationship between humans and nature.
“The artworks respond to and emphasize their ecological surroundings and make us more aware of the ways humans shape and protect the natural environment,” said Sarah Montross, Museum Director and Chief Curator of deCordova.
Each piece in Nature Sanctuary invites visitors to experience the landscape not as a backdrop but as a vital collaborator in the artwork. Together, they explore the distinctive relationships between the natural world and ideas of home in a special place where art, nature, and people coexist.
The Art
Evelyn Rydz, "Holding Water," 2025. Cast glass, steel, concrete, field stones. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Rafael Medina.
Artist Evelyn Rydz has been visiting deCordova for years, not only as an artist but also as a mother whose son has attended The Hive Summer Camp. When Montross approached her to create a new commission for Nature Sanctuary, Rydz embraced the opportunity.
“I immediately thought of water sanctuaries, and how few marine sanctuaries are protected. I wondered why we don’t refer to fresh bodies of water (like Flint’s Pond, a source of drinking water) as water sanctuaries,” said Rydz. “From there, the idea really took off and Sarah (and the deCordova team) really let me be my full artistic self.”
What ultimately came about is one of her first outdoor sculptures, Holding Water. Cupped glass hands made from molds of four people who have a special connection to water cascade in a downward spiral as if they were passing the liquid—and ultimately responsibility and knowledge—into an oversized vessel. Rydz also recorded interviews with each participant for a special audio component to accompany the artwork.
“Audio became such an important aspect of this project even though it wasn’t part of the original plan,” said Rydz. “I’m hoping people will stay a while to listen to these amazing stories and reflect on who taught them to care just like the interviewees do.”
The Nature
Venetia Dale, "Within Time," 2025. Pewter and stainless steel, Courtesy of the artist. Photo by Mel Taing.
Over deCordova’s 75-year history, the landscape has been a rich source of inspiration for many artists. These relationships between art and nature have only deepened since integrating with The Trustees in 2019, especially as collaborations with Trustees Staff—and the wider community of environmental caretakers—has expanded. Nature Sanctuary brings a deeper awareness than ever before to the ground’s unique ecological and geological features.
“Art does not have to be separate from nature,” said Montross. “This exhibition allows visitors to thoroughly explore the interconnections between the two right here at deCordova.”
Two of the site-inspired commissions—Holding Water and Within Time—are intertwined with their natural surroundings. When viewed from eye-level, the waterline on Holding Water’s vessel directly intersects the waterline of Flint’s Pond which it overlooks. Venetia Dale’s Within Time sits between two upright snags (dead trees that are vital habitats for insects, fungi, and other flora and fauna) and mimics not only their structure but the “homes” they provide wildlife.
“All six artists that are a part of this exhibit are answering the questions nature poses through their eyes,” said Montross. “Don’t expect any answers though. Instead, you’ll walk away seeing the questions differently, and perhaps without a clear resolution.”
The People
Joiri Minaya, "Tropticon II," 2025. Perforated vinyl, glass, aluminum, gravel. Courtesy of the artist and Praise Shadows Art Gallery. Photo by Mel Taing.
The idea for Nature Sanctuary came to Sarah Montross over two years ago when she noticed the people around her needing time and space in nature. Yet simultaneously, she recognized that this refuge can be exclusionary and often contradictory.
“It started in a more literal way, as I was researching organic dwellings, nests, and designs of natural habitats and appreciating the sense of refuge that nature can provide,” said Montross. “But the concept morphed to encompass broader ‘ideas of home’ as I spoke with artists and realized there was so much to unpack through their creativity.”
Those personal relationships are at the forefront of each piece. Whether they consider the ramifications of climate change, histories of land use, the migration of living things, or even the exclusion or displacement of living beings to justify protecting nature, each brings a uniquely personal view to Nature Sanctuary.
“With Holding Water, my hope is that people will explore their own connections to water and reimagine their personal relationship with the natural world,” said Rydz.
Experience Nature Sanctuary while visiting deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln this summer. Purchase your Sculpture Park grounds passes today.
