Page 18 - BusinessWest September 5, 2022

Where Art and Nature Collide
Visitors Find Magic at the Three Sisters Sanctuary
By Kailey Houle
Richard Richardson, creator and care- taker of the Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, likes to say that he has built his
own world in what he called a ‘snow globe.’ “I live in a snow globe; I built the snow globe,
I designed the snow globe, and I’m not done with the snow globe yet — this is the magic of
it all,” said the philosophical and quite colorful Richardson. “Somehow I’m gifted enough to take nature and work with it to see it come to matu- rity in such a magical way out there.”
But the snow globe is not his alone. Indeed, it has become a popular stop for day trippers and others. It is a place to stop, reflect, take in beauty of various kinds, and, in many cases, grieve the loss of a loved one — which is where, in many ways, this fascination starts.
The Three Sisters Sanctuary sits on 3,500 acres of protected mixed forest and wetlands. When walking down the winding paths, guests will encounter standing stones, small and large rock cairns, classic statuary, bejeweled beings, and other whimsical creations.
Cozy pockets along the trail invite visitors to stop and take it all in. It has been described, appropriately enough, as a place where art and nature come together.
Within and around the gardens are multiple art exhibits of sculpture, glass, metal, mosaics,
found and repurposed items, and other materi- als. But each exhibit mainly focuses on its natural surroundings; most projects are composed of large stones, like “The Kiss,” but some projects include other natural materials like wood, such as “The Conception.” Perhaps the most intrigu- ing piece in the sanctuary’s gardens is a giant dragon head made of stone, metal and glass; it is most known for breathing fire.
All of this has been derived from the vivid imagination and artistic mind of Richardson, who said he landed in “the land of Goshen” — a rural community northwest of Northampton about 30 years ago in a bread van when driving through for a job. Richardson said he opened the door, looked out, and instantly thought “if I could live anywhere, this would be it.”
And in three years’ time, he bought the land that the sanctuary currently sits on.
“Destiny played a major role in my life. This is the only house I ever thought of buying,” said Richardson. “It was very clear to me that when I purchased this piece of property, I didn’t know then that I had arrived. Where I was going to go from there, I didn’t know, but I had arrived.”
Years later, the sanctuary was created, but as gardens. Richardson’s brother was an avid gardener and close friend to him; he suggested to Richardson that he gardened to help grow
Richard Richardson told BusinessWest destiny played a big role in his work.
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