NAPA
VALLEY'S RENOWNED Auberge du Soleil is home to one of the
most comprehensive collections of outdoor sculpture ever
assembled for viewing and sale: The I. Wolk Sculpture
Gallery.
Featuring nearly 110 works by 65 California sculptors, the
open-air gallery showcases figurative and abstract
sculpture in all media, including bronze, steel, ceramic,
stone and wood, amid terraced rock walls created by hand
in the Mediterranean tradition. The works are placed
throughout Auberge du Soleil’s 33-acre grounds, where
meandering paths, dappled sunlight, a flowing stream and
age-old olive trees provide a contrast between art and
nature that intensifies appreciation of both.
“I first saw these terraced walls in olive groves in
Mallorca and envisioned recreating them on our
hillside,” said George Goeggel, managing partner of
Auberge du Soleil. “I’m a firm believer that the true
connoisseur’s appreciation should include not only fine
food, wine and hospitality, but also fine art – for
which the Napa Valley is likewise renowned. At Auberge du
Soleil, all these elements have been brought together in
equal balance, pleasing all the senses.”
THE I. WOLK SCULPTURE GALLERY is a marvel of landscaping
and stone masonry, with sculptures thoughtfully situated
so they harmoniously coexist with the olive trees. More
than 500 tons of fieldstone was fashioned into mortar-less
stone walls extending more than 7,000 feet. A stream flows
through the center of the grove creating a pleasant,
audible trickle, fulfilling Goeggel’s wish to create an
oasis that would remain a lush backdrop for the art even
during the long dry Napa summer.
To complete the garden, an arched redwood bridge enables
grove wanderers to cross from one side to the other,
making the Olive Grove Sculpture Gallery ideal for quietly
gazing at the artwork, having a picnic or a relaxing walk
in the shade.
The I. Wolk Sculpture Gallery owner, director, curator and
coordinator is Ira Wolk, owner of I.Wolk Gallery in St.
Helena, which features contemporary paintings, works on
paper and photography by emerging, mid-career and
established artists. The range includes representational
(landscapes, figurative and still life) and abstract.
The I. Wolk Sculpture Gallery is open to guests of Auberge
du Soleil or by appointment. All the works are available
for purchase and commissions can be arranged. For more
information or to schedule a visit, call Ira Wolk at The
I. Wolk Sculpture Gallery at Auberge du Soleil,
707-963-1211, or visit their website at
www.iwolkgallery.com.
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