Hidden behind houses and an unassuming fence, Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a jewel in the Salt Lake City park system. Thomas Child created the garden as a personal act of creativity and devotion in his backyard. In 2000, the garden became a city park as the only known “visionary art environment” in Utah. That means an artwork that is made of mostly found materials and created by an artist expressing personal convictions and without formal artistic training.
What’s in Gilgal Sculpture Garden?
Child was a successful stonemason but not a formally trained sculptor. Despite this, his garden contains twelve monumental works, mostly with religious symbolism. The most famous, The Sphinx, depicts a traditional Egyptian sphinx with the face of Joseph Smith and the western façade of the Salt Lake Temple on his chest. There’s a huge altar, a monument to his trade, a stone arch, a spire with Angel Moroni, large stone hearts, weapons turned into a plow, and more. In addition to the large sculptures, on the ground and nestled into nooks and art pieces, dozens of stones bear text from hymns and scriptures or scriptural references.
The Name, Gilgal
The name of this garden is also symbolic in nature coming from the Bible. Joshua set up the Israelite encampment next to the Jordan River outside of Jericho and named it Gilgal. The name is also found in the Book of Mormon. The term refers specifically to the circle of twelve stones that Joshua erected as a memorial to the miracle they experienced crossing the Jordan River. In a sense, Child used the name to denote that he too had erected a monument to God as a circle of twelve stones.
Evoking Curiosity
For some garden visitors, the works may evoke meaning and deep connection to the subject and messages. For others, the garden may seem a cultural curiosity created by an eccentric religious nut. Child was okay with this. He once said, “You don’t have to agree with me. You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity.”
When I take guests here as part of an Adventure Patches tour, they are always fascinated. The garden is open during the day throughout the year and is free to enter. Interpretive guides help visitors understand the sculptures and connect with Child’s vision. Visit GilgalGarden.org for more information.
