Above: Art on the Trails organizers are asking artists to start thinking about what they will contribute to install near the trails for the 9th annual summerlong exhibition at Beals Preserve. (image from announcement and 2023 photo by Beth Melo)
The snow outside looks beautiful. But the punishing cold winds are making me long for spring. So I’m welcoming the reminder that winter won’t last forever.
Organizers for the 2025 Art on the Trails exhibit have already opened up the submission window for their “Call for Art”.
It’s the 9th annual event, at Southborough Open Land Foundation’s Beals Preserve. And that timeline is the spark for this year’s creative theme, “Number 9”.
As explained on the Art on the Trails website:
We invite artists to explore the many symbolic meanings of this powerful number. In numerology, 9 represents completion, wisdom, and transformation, marking the end of a cycle and the beginning of something new. It is a number of universality and humanitarianism, embodying creativity, enlightenment, and reflection—perfectly aligning with the spirit of art in nature. As this exhibition reaches its ninth year, it celebrates the journey so far while embracing the possibilities that lie ahead. Whether interpreted through the lens of nature’s cycles, personal growth, or artistic evolution, “Number 9″ encourages contemplation of endings, transitions, and the infinite potential that follows.
The juror for this year’s exhibition is Sculptor Madeleine Lord. You can learn more about her here (and see her contribution to the 2023 exhibit, #2 – Empathy, here.)
For the 5th year, accepted artists will receive a $100 stipend. (They can also use the exhibit to sell their installations, with 25% of the fees to be donated to SOLF.)
As always, submissions must adhere to their “Leave No Trace” policy. The art on the SOLF preserve must leave no permanent trace to the environment and be installed without harm to surrounding trees or vegetation.
The window for submissions is open through midnight on April 15th (with no extensions). Selections will be announced on May 1st. Works will be installed by artists on June 14th to be on display through September 14th. (The trails are generally open to the public from dawn to dusk.)
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 for a chapbook. Stay tuned for news on a Call for Poetry later this summer.
Once again, the outdoor exhibit is made possible through support from the Southborough Community Fund, SOLF, the Southborough Cultural Arts Council, and the Mass Cultural Council, along with local business sponsors.
