outdoor sculpture exhibition

9.3.22 ~ Avery Point
“Chameleon” by Helena Chastel

Saturday morning we visited Open Air 2022, an outdoor sculpture exhibit hosted by the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art on the beautiful UConn Avery Point campus from July 14-September 29. This idea started in 2020 because of the pandemic, when the gallery had to remain closed. It was so popular with the public that they plan to continue with a new installation every summer.

“Noon” by Myles Nurse
“Piles” by Jack Henry

Life is a train of moods like a string of beads, and, as we pass through them, they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only what lies in its own focus.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
(Experience)

“Stand Up” by Margaret Roleke
herring gull with feathers ruffled in the breeze
“Silent Vanishing” by CoyWolf Collective
(Elizabeth Knowles, Steven Phillip Harris, Debra Vilen)

Silent Vanishing was my favorite sculpture, depicting melting icebergs and the snowy owls who breed in the treeless arctic tundra. Where will they go if/when the environment changes too fast for them to adapt?

one of many cairns on top of the seawall
northern mockingbird

I stopped by my beach rosebushes to see if the song sparrow was still there but a mockingbird came out to greet me instead. He posed for quite a while and I took many pictures of him.

beach rose hips
lonely little beach rose
“Movement Study: Wave” by Margaret Parsons
purple coneflowers and stone wall
“Bubbles” by Brian Walters
“And Only Its Hands Are Left Pleading for Life”
by Thomas Pilnik

For an interesting explanation of Pilnik’s crumbling sculpture (above) and a picture of what it looked like when he first created it in July follow this link: Thomas Pilnik

And now we’re getting some much needed rain!

24 thoughts on “outdoor sculpture exhibition”

    1. Thank you, Peggy. I’ve learned over the years that what I appreciate is representational art. Abstract modern art, not so much.

  1. What a great idea, an outdoor sculpture exhibition! What is it they say about necessity being the mother of invention? Glad the Pandemic brought about something so enjoyable, Barbara. I like the one called “Bubbles” — it’s somehow cheery to me. And I love the mockingbird — he looks so regal. Glad you’re getting some of that rain!

    1. It does seem like the silver lining on this pandemic cloud is that we’ve learned to spend far more time outdoors. “Bubbles” does have a very bright and cheerful feel. 🙂 By the time it stopped raining we got 2.6 inches of rain, some Connecticut towns got 5-6 inches. Lots of flooding in some areas, but it was good to make a dent in the drought.

  2. You have the most interesting walks! I hiked in coastal oak scrub this morning. The heat was intense but we saw scrub jays and various butterflies. Wishing for cooler weather.

    1. Your walk sounds wonderful, even though it was hot. I looked up scrub-jay as I’d never heard of that one before. The Florida scrub-jay looks very handsome. They must be partial to your warm weather. Hope your wish comes true soon!

    1. We were grateful for the rain but we’re still in a severe drought. More, we need more, please! I love outdoor art, too, even if I don’t “get” some of it. 😉

  3. “herring gull with feathers ruffled in the breeze” is my favorite artwork of this show. 😉

    This selection of modern art display seems very much out of place. Is is a temporary moving art show or permanent?

    I do think modern art definitely has its place, but not in the landscape.

    1. I agree with you! The gull was the only one I saw that day and I enjoyed watching him taking his sunbath for quite a while. These sculptures are temporary, but there are a few permanent installations along the walk. They are mostly stone, able to stand up to the harsh weather conditions.

  4. This is better than perfect!

    “Life is a train of moods like a string of beads, and, as we pass through them, they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only what lies in its own focus.
    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
    (Experience)”

    Some people have a long string through the beads while other people have a short string. I’m a long string with a variety of beads. This is great to be able to put moods into words! ❤️❤️❤️

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the quote, too, TD! My train of moods is a very long one, too. Emerson has such a way with words that resonates with me. I’ve returned to his writings often in my lifetime and still find “new” thoughts to contemplate. 🙏 💙

  5. Well, the rain was not pouring for this walk – that’s for sure Barbara. I like your quote (as usual) – you pick the best quote always to go with your pictures. My favorite painting was “Silent Vanishing” as it was so realistic. The cairns were interesting as well. A little walking and a lot of artistic works at the same time.

    1. Thank you, Linda! “Silent Vanishing” was pretty amazing, one of the few there that made any sense to me. Most abstract art I just don’t “get.” But I suppose the artists are sharing what they see through their own unique lenses. I’ve got to start paying closer attention to the cairns. I’m never sure if they are new arrangements or if they are glued in place as Tim theorizes. 😉

      1. I’m with you on abstract art Barbara – if I have to scratch my head to understand it, I’m not interested. The same with poetry if it is too “out there” and I can’t follow it. Tim’s theory on the cairns may be correct because not long ago I read an article that discouraged people from building cairns, especially on hiking trails, as it takes away from the natural beauty of the area. (I’m sure there are enough rocks/pebbles to go around though?)

        1. That’s interesting, I think cairns harmonize with the surrounding natural beauty. I guess some people consider it vandalism but I’d much rather see a cairn than the trash or graffiti other people like to leave behind. I do see the point, however, that moving a rock might disturb the little creatures that might be using it for shelter.

          1. The article I read said for hiking purposes, the hikers used the cairns to identify their trail for upcoming hikers and/or to ensure they could find their way back, but multiple cairns became confusing. I think the cairns enhance, not detract, from the natural beauty, just like you do.

          2. Cairns could be called examples of ephemeral nature art.
            “Art is harmony parallel to nature.” ~ Paul Cézanne

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