Curated by Jeff Nathanson, Return to Paradise highlights the work of local artists with unique and rich histories of exhibiting at Paradise Ridge. In recognition of Walter and Marijke Byck’s enduring dedication to supporting local artists and to bringing sculpture to Sonoma County, the exhibition is a celebratory return for the featured artists:
The Byck-Hoenselaars Fund, dedicated to celebrating and sustaining the artistic spirit of Sonoma County, continues Marijke and Walter’s commitment to the arts, while supporting local artists and enriching public art for the community—now and for generations to come. To make a tax deductible contribution please email jeff@celebratesculpture.com.
Paradise Ridge Winery offers more than just exceptional wines and amazing views—the winery is equally celebrated for its immersive sculpture exhibitions. It’s a destination where art, nature, and culture converge, blending creativity with the natural beauty of the landscape.
In 1997, Walter and Marijke Hoenselaars-Byck developed an expansive sculpture exhibition across a four-acre grove of wooded glens, ancient oaks, and open meadows. Rather than exclusively selecting permanent works, the grove supports the arts with a dynamic combination of permanent and rotating exhibits. Walter dedicated the grove to honor the memory of his wife, naming it Marijke’s Grove in 2007.
In recent years the family partnered with the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation, a charitable organization placing sculptures in accessible public spaces. The result is a truly unique experience—meandering along simple footpaths, visitors encounter art among mossy rocks, grassy clearings, and ancient oak trees. This setting elevates not just the sculptures but the landscape itself, offering an unparalleled fusion of art and nature.
Open and free to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the sculptures invites visitors to connect with art in a serene, natural setting.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 The Bohemian, an award-winning alternative newsweekly serving Sonoma and Napa counties, voted Paradise Ridge the Best Art Inspired Winery. Paradise Ridge Winery has exhibited many well established sculptures, focusing on local artist many with international reputations among them:
Bruce Johnson: A sculptor celebrated for his large-scale works crafted from salvaged redwood and copper.
Catherine Daley: An artist from Windsor known for her innovative use of materials and forms, creating sculptures that engage viewers through their dynamic presence.
Ned Kahn: A Sebastopol-based artist celebrated for his kinetic sculptures that interact with natural elements like wind and light. His installations often explore the interplay between art and nature.
Riis Burwell: A sculptor who works in steel, stainless steel, and bronze, expressing the opposing forces of geometry and entropy through graceful forms.
Bryan Tedrick is a renowned sculptor known for his large-scale, dynamic metal works often featured at Burning Man. His pieces are bold, kinetic designs that celebrate movement and balanc
In addition to hosting rotating exhibitions, Paradise Ridge Winery proudly features several permanent installations, including the iconic LOVE sculpture. This 12-foot-tall masterpiece is part of Laura Kimpton’s renowned “Monumental Words” series, originally debuted at Burning Man in 2009.
Adorned with birds symbolizing freedom, the sculpture’s “LOVE birds” serve as the inspiration behind Paradise Ridge Winery’s branding and logo design.
In addition to hosting rotating exhibitions, Paradise Ridge Winery proudly features several permanent installations, including the iconic LOVE sculpture. This 12-foot-tall masterpiece is part of Laura Kimpton’s renowned “Monumental Words” series, originally debuted at Burning Man in 2009.
Adorned with birds symbolizing freedom, the sculpture’s “LOVE birds” serve as the inspiration behind Paradise Ridge Winery’s branding and logo design.
The Empyrean Temple build was completed in early February 2021 and stands as a beacon of inspiration and hope for a changing world. The temple represents the region just beyond our physical realm that is the highest center of wisdom and the source of energy-consciousness. The build is a proof-of-concept project that comprises two of the eight canopies, or star blades, that were constructed in full for the 2022 official Burning Man gathering.
One of the best know sculptures in the permanent collection is the Temple of Remembrance, by David Best a massive 25-ton steel structure that provides a sacred space for reflection and renewal. Best is renowned for his ephemeral temples, wooden structures that live for months, weeks, or sometimes just days, and are then burned to release emotions and generate community.
This is his first permanent steel structure. It incorporates a brilliant blending of imagery ranging from Celtic to Hindu to European Gothic. The Temple of Remembrance is more than 34 feet high and exceeding 25 feet in diameter, it includes welded steel and features the intricate designs and delicate details.
While this sculpture will not be burnt, the steel’s reaction to wind and weather and the welcome addition of handwritten flags, photos and mementos will transform it year by year.
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