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While driving on Route 7 in Sheffield city in the western-most county of Massachusetts, Berkshire County, which is just north of the Connecticut border and about twenty minutes east of the New York state line, the two RV Gypsies spotted a sign for Butler Sculpture Park. So Lee made a quick right hand turn and drove about 1.6 miles. Then the next sign took the two RV Gypsies off the beaten path, up a dirt/gravel driveway to the hilltops of the lush southern Berkshires. The road was curvy and narrow, with only room for one car, and the two RV Gypsies just hoped that they did not meet another car on the road. |
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Once parked, the two RV Gypsies entered a building and saw a map and an indoor gallery with several large sculptures under the soaring sixteen-foot high ceiling. Smaller pieces were also displayed including the one shown below, which his wife knitted. |
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Then Mr. Butler came in and introduced himself to Lee Duquette. He gave an interesting and informative speech about the park and himself. He also explained how his pieces were made. He asked if Lee wanted to see the smaller pieces that were in an inside building or just the larger outside pieces. Lee said both, so Mr. Butler showed Lee to the outside path and said he would meet him at the building up on the hill.
Mr. Butler completely and totally ignored Karen Duquette!
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The first two pieces were near the parking lot: "Red Legs" and "The Sentinel". |
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A gently meandering pristine trail led the two RV Gypsies through the woods to many large-scale sculptures, nestled among the greenery. First, they crossed a small bridge and saw two more sculptures which were not named on the map. Then they came to some stairs. |
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At the top of the stairs, the two RV Gypsies saw an expansive upper meadow that formed a grassy courtyard overlooking the valley, with "rooms" created to highlight individual pieces; Butler's powerful stainless steel sculptures. His kinetic pieces seeded right at home among the lacy trees that framed the sculpture sites. The sculptures were labeled with a number and the map gave the name of each sculpture. |
"Moonbeams" |
"Zig- Zag" |
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"Flight" |
"3-Ring Circus" |
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"Suited In Red" |
"Totemic" |
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"Circle of Friends" |
"On Top of the World" |
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"Reflections" |
"Side-by-Side" |
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"Celestial" |
"Center Stage" |
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"Swinging-S" (and yes, it spun around) |
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"Ribbon" |
"She was blue in the face" |
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"Sprinting" |
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"Two are better than one" |
"The Performers" |
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"Stepped out of a Dream" |
"Peacock" |
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"Trio of Blues" plus Lee in blue |
"Abracadabra" |
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"LightHeaded" |
"Proud Pose II" |
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"Glider" |
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"Circular Motion" - This sculpture was part of the roof design of the workshop building. |
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Lee Duquette and "Shadow Dancing" |
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"Spinning Tales" |
"Lister" |
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Two views of "On a Roll" |
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Two views of "Shooting Star" |
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Two views of "Vertebras" |
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"Wheel Head" |
"One Full of Angles" |
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"Heel Kickers" |
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"Hey Look Me Over" |
"Triple Curves"
(but there are 4 curves)? |
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Below is the big monumental sculpture with no name - the parts move and sway in the wind. |
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