Above: Art on the Trails organizers announced the artists who will be part of the legacy-themed exhibit in recognition of “a remarkable friend” of the program. (scroll down for image credits*)
In 3½ weeks, artists will install works alongside the Beals Preserve trails for the 8th annual Art on the Trails exhibit. Organizers have announced the artists selected to be part of the “Legacy” themed exhibit.
In the Call for Art this year, artists were asked to consider the legacy of Whitney Beals, who helped oversee the stewardship of Beals Preserve, the 58.5 acres of open space his parents donated to SOLF (the Southborough Open Land Foundation).
You can read more about the Legacy theme in my prior post.
Last week, organizers announced plans for annual installation. Thirteen projects will be exhibited this year.
The public is invited to watch works being installed on Saturday, June 15th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Once installed, the art will be on display through September 15th.
As usual, one work be a group project from Neary School led by Art Teacher Denise Johnson. According to a school announcement, this year’s project is titled “Rooted in Nature”. An exhibit representing oversized tree roots will be a tribute to Beals’ love of trees.
The other twelve selected project proposals were from the following artists (including two from our town):
- Chelsea Bradway of Southborough
- Jake Walter of Southborough
- Sarah Alexander of Sutton
- Pam Bonaguide of Wayland
- Molly Dee of Natick
- Trish Dehls of Woodstock, CT
- Gints Grinbergs of Dedham
- Casey Hayward of Stoneham
- Jane McKenzie Montreal
- Nilou Moochhala of Arlington
- Charles Smith of Jefferson, NH
- Stephen Strout of Natick
For the fourth year, each selected artist will receive a $100 stipend.
The juror for this year’s exhibition is Marie Craig, artist, curator, and owner of Fountain Street Gallery.
As always, artists will be required to the art leave no permanent trace to the preserve environment and to install works without harming surrounding trees or vegetation.
As in past years, the exhibit will also used to inspire poetry for a chapbook. This year’s will be juried by poet Maura Snell with a prize-winning poem selected by ” award-winning Welsh writer Adele Evershed.”
(Stay tuned for news on a Call for Poetry later this summer when there are installed works to be inspired by.)
Once again, the outdoor exhibit is made possible through support from SOLF and the Southborough Community Fund. This year, additional funding comes from Ginny Martins & Associates, Middlesex Saving Bank, and Fay School.
*(cover images clockwise cropped from photo by Chelsea Bradway of Matthew Haberstron’s 2023 contribution “Good Tree with its Voice”, 2024 theme image by art juror Marie Craig, and photo of Whitney Beals from Facebook)
