New Canaan Land Trust Opens the New Canaan Sculpture Trail

The New Canaan Land Trust is proud to announce the official opening of the New Canaan Sculpture Trail on June 19th, the eve of the summer solstice. A virtual Summer Sculpture Soirée is planned to celebrate this milestone, and to raise funds to support youth employment opportunities through the Land Trust.

The inaugural exhibition, created in partnership with the Carriage Barn Arts Center, features eight juried sculptures placed at six Land Trust preserves, New Canaan Town Hall and at the Carriage Barn courtyard at Waveny Park.

“We are thrilled to have the sculptures placed across our preserves and in New Canaan, ready for the public to enjoy all summer and into the fall,” commented Aaron Lefland, New Canaan Land Trust Executive Director. He continued, "It’s time to celebrate this unique outdoor art exhibition, while also helping to raise funds for youth internship and employment opportunities.”

While designed as a celebration, the Summer Solstice Soirée’s will also generate funds through ticket sales, a silent auction, and paddle-raise. Funds raised will support summer employment opportunities for both high school and college students. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced needed funding for the Land Trust’s annual high school internship, which employs ten local high school students over the summer.  The non-profit also hopes to raise additional funds to hire two college students, who will gain skills and experience working with the Land Trust.

“The job market for local youth is really tough this summer,” commented Tom Cronin, board president of NLCT. “If we can provide local jobs and help further our mission at the same time, it’s a win-win for everyone.” The fundraising goal for the event is $28,000.

The Summer Solstice Soiréewill feature specialty drinks and appetizers, interactive games, flash talks from some of the artists, and opportunities to support the New Canaan Land Trust. Plus, New Canaan-native Alison Williams will join the party for a special toast. The Land Trust has partnered with South End to create a Sculpture Soirée appetizer kit and signature cocktail that guests can choose to add on when they purchase their $25.00 virtual party ticket.

The New Canaan Sculpture Trail exhibition started in early April with the installation of Passages by Norwalk-based artist, Thomas S. Berntsenat the Hannan Eberstadt Field (at the corner of Route 123 and Canoe Hill Road). It was installed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has served as an uplifting inspiration throughout the shelter-in-place mandate. Over the past three weeks, five more sculptures have been installed, and the remaining two will be placed on-site in the next week.  

The variety of the sculptures and their settings promise to be a draw for both residents and visitors. Gilbert Boro’s After Alex 1/14, an abstract representation of the universe with nine stainless steel spheres, is highly visible in front of New Canaan Town Hall.  Matthias Neumann’s Basics #39, placed in the Colhoun Preserve on Davenport Ridge, greets travelers as they enter New Canaan from Stamford. Anthony Heinz May’s Ashen adds a new landmark to the courtyard of the Carriage Barn. May’s sculpture is an ash tree with a pixelated top uniquely made of blocks from the tree. Christopher Kacmarek’s Labyrinth has introduced an interactive new feature for visitors to Watson-Symington Preserve -- an opportunity to take a meditative walk in and out of the labyrinth. Carlos Davila’s Sugar Maple adds a blast of orange in the center of the Livingston-Higley Meadow. GreenLink’s Bloom by Elizabeth Knowles and William Thielen and Joe Chirchirillo’s Ring Tower in Still Pond Preserve will be ready for visitors by the opening party.

The New Canaan Sculpture Trail has been made possible by the generous support of Lead Sponsor Harlan E. and Lois J. Anderson Family Foundation; contributors Stuart Higley Foundation; A.P. Construction Company, and the Town of New Canaan; and Media Sponsor Serendipity Magazine.  

The Summer Solstice Soirée will take place on Zoom from 5:01 pm to 6 pm.  Tickets per household are $25.00. Sign up here. View items in the silent auction.

Attached photos :

Carlos Davila’ Sugar Maple (photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

Thomas Berntsen’s Passages (photo credit: Nancy Bemis)

Gilbert Boro’s After Alex 1/14 ((photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

Anthony Heinz May and Ashen (photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

Christopher Kaczmarek’s Labyrinth (photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

Mathias Neumann’s basics #39 (photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

Joe Chirchirillo and Ring Tower (photo credit: Elaine Lloyd)

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Submitted by New Canaan, CT

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