Above: The 2021 Art on the Trails exhibit “Mending” brought us this evolving installation. I’m looking forward to seeing what the 2022 theme will inspire. (images of Paul Hackett’s “Persistence” and the Exposure theme cropped from Art on the Trials website)
The Call for Art window has opened for Southborough’s 6th annual Art on the Trails.
Southborough Open Land Foundation will again host the summer-long exhibit alongside trails at Beals Preserve. Any artist looking to be part of the juried exhibit should submit a proposal by April 15th. (Multiple entries are welcome and encouraged.)
The 2021 theme is “Exposure”. Artists are invited to consider how their work relates to any of the following definitions cited from Merriam Webster dictionary:
1: the fact or condition of being exposed: such as
- the condition of being presented to view or made known
- the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather
- the condition of being subject to some effect or influence such as risk exposure to the flu
- the condition of being at risk of financial loss
2: the act or an instance of exposing: such as
- disclosure of something secret
- the treating of sensitized material (such as film) to controlled amounts of radiant energy
3: a: the manner of being exposed
b: the position (as of a house) with respect to weather influences or compass points
4: a piece or section of sensitized material (such as film) on which an exposure is or can be made
As always, the art must leave no permanent trace to the environment and be installed without harm to surrounding trees or vegetation. Selected works will be installed by artists July 11-12 and displayed through September 11th.
The juror for this year’s exhibition is sculptor Anne Alexander. (You can read more about her here.)
For the second year, each selected artist will receive a $100 stipend, thanks to support of the Southborough Community Fund and Southborough Cultural Arts Council. Selections will be announced on May 1st.
This year, along with an additional juror prize, there will be a popular prize, voted on by visitors to the show.
Those interested in potentially applying can request a guided tour of the site.
If you’re feeling inspired, or think you know someone who might be, you can check out the website here and the full submission guidelines here. (You can also look at past coverage and photos on the blog here.)
Each year, the exhibit is also used to inspire poetry. Stay tuned for news on a Call for Poetry later this summer. In the meantime, you can buy the chapbook of poetry inspired by last year’s exhibit here.
