Luna Parc
Front view of the main house of Luna Parc
Location	Sandyston Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Coordinates	41°15′8.316″N 74°47′16.62″W / 41.25231000°N 74.7879500°W / 41.25231000; -74.7879500
Established	1989
Founder	Richard Boscarino
Designer	Richard Boscarino
Etymology	Rome park by same name [1] [2] [3]
Operated by	Richard Boscarino
Visitors	5,226
Open	During semi-annual Open House
Status	Active

Luna Parc is the semi-private museum, atelier, and private home of 21st century American multimedia artist Richard "Ricky" Boscarino ^{[4] [5] [6]} located in Sandyston Township, New Jersey, United States. Twice a year, the museum and atelier are opened to the public for a three-weekday Open House. ^{[3] [4] [7] [8] [9]}

Description

Luna Parc comprises multiple buildings ^{[3] [10]} and outdoor art pieces ^{[11] [12] [13]} set in an 8.5-acre ^{[14] [15]} densely-wooded landscape. ^[2] These structures are built from metal, clay, glass, ^{[2] [16]} wood, rock, ^[6] ceramic, cement, ^{[17] [18]} and ferro-cement. ^[19] They are designed in a whimsical ^{[3] [15] [16] [20] [21]} architectural style, featuring vivid colors, ^{[2] [3] [11] [22]} curving surfaces, ^{[5] [11]} detailed mosaic tiling, ^{[4] [5] [11]} and incorporating unusual objects such as bowling balls ^{[9] [23]} and license plates. ^{[23] [24]}

The fantastical outdoor appearance of Luna Parc resembles Gaudí's Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain, and the Hundertwasser House in Vienna, Austria, because Boscarino drew inspiration from both these European sites. ^{[2] [16] [19] [20]}

The main building is a 5,000 square foot residential house. ^[15] The interior of this house is a cabinet of curiosities exhibiting thousands of artifacts ^{[2] [3] [4]} ranging from the exotic (e.g., Tibetan yak leather pouch) to the absurd (human fallopian tubes floating in a glass vessel). ^{[6] [11] [12] [13] [21] [23] [25]} Also on display inside are Boscarino's individual works of art such as his oil paintings ^{[16] [26]} and articulated metallic insect jewelry. ^{[18] [22] [27] [28]}

Related organization

Boscarino is also an officer in The Luna Parc Atelier Foundation Inc. ^[29] The Foundation is a not-for-profit entity registered under US IRC as a 501(c)(3) organization ^{[17] [29]} that serves as an art colony and is chartered to teach and provide hands-on training to aspiring artists and apprentice workers. ^[30] One mission of the Foundation is to ensure the continued existence of Luna Parc as a creative museum. ^[31] Much of the Foundation's training, events, and fundraising takes place on the grounds of Luna Parc. ^{[4] [9] [32]}

Critical reception

Mark Sceurman, co-creator and publisher of History Channel's reality television series Weird U.S., described Luna Parc in 2014 as "Of all the places we've seen, I think this is the strangest". ^[23]

Some works exhibited

• 
  Facade of Luna Parc built of wood, rock, concrete, and ceramic mosaics
• 
  Closeup of Boscarino detailed mosaic art
• 
  Example of Boscarino oil paintings on display at Luna Parc (self-portrait)
• 
  Example of Boscarino ceramic plaque embedded into facade
• 
  Outdoor wind machine Boscarino built from rebar and bicycle wheels
• 
  Multimedia ballroom showing Boscarino sculptures, Boscarino stained glass, and artifact collections
• 
  Concrete portico Boscarino built using the ferro-cement technique
• 
  Articulated silver and bronze cicada brooch Boscarino handmade by repoussé method
• 
  Kiln-fired ceramic vessels Boscarino handcrafted in tradition of Mississippian head pots

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to House of Luna Parc.

• Official website
• Autobiographical video narrated by Boscarino
• Aerial drone footage of Luna Parc in winter
• New Jersey State Council on the Arts video tour Luna Parc and interview of Boscarino