I finally got to this year’s Art Ramble in Concord’s Hapgood Wright Town Forest — site-specific creations from the Umbrella artists planted among fallen logs and leaves.
There were quite a few other visitors on the cold, sunny day. One couple shared a laugh about their madly yapping dog, who had been spooked by the recumbent figure of Thoreau in the woods. Another couple discussed with me the best way to avoid a shadow on the chicken-and-egg-sculpture. And a friendly woman who was a United Church of Christ minister and artist herself joined me for half the walk. We helped each other spot pieces that blended in so much with the surroundings that at first, when you saw a descriptive sign but no art, you would think the work had already been removed.
I particularly liked the tiny people — one hermit in contemplation under a root, others peeking out of the bark or cavorting on a dead log.
A man with a top hat and frog face was standing next to the pond — a Slavic water spirit and trickster that I am happy to know about.
My favorite this year was the spirit emerging from the earth at the base of a tree. At first I thought, Caliban, but then looked at his gentle face.
My report on the 2016 Art Ramble is here, and the one on the 2017 Art Ramble is here.
If you live in Massachusetts or are visiting Walden Pond, which is nearby, the Art Ramble is up until Nov. 30 this year. It will make you feel like creating some art yourself — especially with leaves and sticks and mud.
Thanks for posting this. I thought it had come and gone! Phil and I loved last year’s, especially for the tributes to eco-heroes!
Yes, and there were good environmental quotes hanging in the air between trees this year. I couldn’t get a good shot of that.
Thank you for this reminder to ramble! I especially love the last image in your post…
The earth spirit was my favorite. He makes me pause and think about how the earth is alive.
What an interesting approach to inspiring art projects, as well as showcasing them and encouraging people to engage with the art.
One artist had a particular focus on interactivity. The artist set out an old wooden cabinet with shelves and invited people to find something to add. I found a stick bearing a fungus. The minister placed a birch log with pealing papery bark under the cabinet. The shelves inside the door were already full of objects.
One can count on the creative souls at Emerson Umbrella for the Arts to imaging a whole new way to experience art.
It’s an idea worth spreading — as someone in Arlington suggested recently.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
FOREST FANTASY FIGURES FOUND IN THIS FOREST!
Thanks for reblogging. The Art Ramble is definitely worth sharing.
How delightful! Really like the chickens and how they just blended in with their surroundings. Thanks for this short walk!
Those must be free-range chickens. And they like the woods.
I love your regular reports! Thanks for this and for your photos. I went to this year’s ramble three times in different seasons, and the different ways the art interacts with the different foliage and light is amazing!
That is a great tip. I will try to do that next time.