Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, is the only American sculpture garden by the renowned French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, located in Sankey Arboretum in Kit Carson Park, Escondido, California. Designed like the fantasy-laden dreams of a Southern California crack-head, the sculpture garden is made up of glass, shells, and stones fashioned into strange statues and totems.
Queen Califia was a legendary black Amazon warrior queen believed to rule over an island of gold and riches. The garden took four years to plan and execute, and was Saint Phalle’s last large scale artistic installation. If you find yourself in the Escondido area and in the mood for some culture, the sculpture garden is worth an instagram or two.
