The New Canaan Sculpture Trail was created in 2020 through a partnership between the New Canaan Land Trust and Carriage Barn Arts Center. Originally developed as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the exhibition became a beacon of hope during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing our community with new ways of connecting with nature, art, culture, and one another.

As non-essential businesses temporarily shut their doors, the eight sculptures on the New Canaan Sculpture Trail remained open for all to visit and enjoy. More than 5,000 people visited the six sculptures installed at Land Trust preserves, and countless more enjoyed the works on display at Town Hall and the Carriage Barn Arts Center.

It turned out that the Sculpture Trail was exactly what our community needed during that challenging time.

Today, our nation and our community are grappling with different challenges; ones of social justice, equity, race, and privilege. Just as the 2020 Sculpture Trail helped guide us through a challenging time, so will the 2022 edition.

The 2022 exhibition will prompt artists to reflect on the conflicted history of land ownership in the United States and the ways that open space and land conservation can help build a more equitable future. In turn, events and programs will provide opportunities for discussion, reflection, and growth.

Statement

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the face of a changing climate, it has become abundantly clear that open space and access to nature is fundamental to our health and wellbeing.

Installations that contemplate the role of open space and conservation in social and environmental justice are encouraged. The exhibition intends to connect audiences to the underlying stories of the land, deepen connections between people and the natural world, and inspire conversation about inclusion and equity through social and environmental justice.

Themes and issues for consideration

• Access to land as a basis for health and wellbeing
• (In)equitable access to nature and the outdoors
• Land conservation as a tool to address issues of social injustice
• The inherent power that comes with land ownership
• Historic land use, ownership, and appropriation

A Look Back at the 2020 Sculpture Trail