New Canaan, CT - The New Canaan Land Trust and the Carriage Barn Arts Center have selected artists for their upcoming outdoor public art exhibition, the New Canaan Sculpture Trail. The New Canaan Sculpture Trail will feature eight juried selections of outdoor sculpture at six New Canaan Land Trust preserves, the front lawn of the New Canaan Town Hall, and the courtyard of the Carriage Barn Arts Center. The four-month exhibit will run from April 1 through July 31, 2020, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which takes place on April 22nd.
Drawing from over 70 submitted proposals, the Exhibition Advisory Committee selected eight sculptures. Each was evaluated by its ability to respond to the scale, geography, and context of the properties and meet the criteria of being visually engaging, interactive, and distinctive. The committee included Hilary Wittmann, Executive Director of the Carriage Barn Arts Center, Richard Klein, Exhibitions Director at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Thea Lanzisero, President of the Sculptors Guild, and Aaron Lefland, Executive Director of the New Canaan Land Trust.
“We are thrilled by the caliber and number of the submissions that we received,” commented Hilary Wittmann. “We believe the Sculpture Trail’s range of works and artists will draw both New Canaan residents and visitors alike to this inaugural exhibition.”
Artists throughout the New York metro area, New England, and as far as Illinois submitted the selected sculptures. The mediums of the planned sculptures range from a series of steel frames holding acrylic sheets, welded steel, wood, rocks, and even a fallen, “upcycled” tree harvested from one of the Land Trust’s preserves.
Aaron Lefland elaborated: “Connecting audiences to art and nature on our preserves is a wonderful way to recognize the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. We are overwhelmed by the number of submissions and the diversity of the sculptures.”
The participating artists are Thomas S. Berntsen of Norwalk, CT; Gilbert Boro of Old Lyme, CT; Joe Chirchirillo of North Bennington, VT; Carlos Davila of Bridgeport, CT; Christopher Kaczmarek of New York, NY; Elizabeth Knowles of New York, NY and William Thielesen of Illinois; Anthony Heinz May of Brooklyn, NY; and Matthius Neumann of Brooklyn, NY.
TheNew Canaan Sculpture Trailhas been made possible by the generous support of Harlan and Lois Anderson Foundation, who serve as the lead sponsor for the exhibition. Their sponsorship, along with three contributing sponsors -- Stuart Higley Family Foundation, AP Construction, and the Town of New Canaan -- will help cover the costs of artist stipends, property preparation, maintenance, and promotional expenses.
Questions about the exhibition or the Land Trust? Contact NCLT Executive Director, Aaron Lefland at info@newcanaanlandtrust.org or by calling 203-972-1270. For the prospectus, go to https://carriagebarn.org/sculpture-trail/.
Photos attached: Gilbert Boro’s After Alex 1/14; Joe Chirchirillo’s Ring Tower; Elizabeth Knowles and William Thielesen’s Bloom; and the New Canaan Sculpture Trail logo.
About the New Canaan Land Trust
Entering its 53rd year, the New Canaan Land Trust works to build a healthier and greener New Canaan by protecting and stewarding New Canaan’s natural resources. By engaging the community in programs, workshops, and other events, NCLT fosters a connection between people and their natural surroundings and instills a conservation ethic in the New Canaan community. For more, visit www.newcanaanlandtrust.org.