About the Exhibition

 

Exploring Environmental Justice Through Art and Open Space

June – October 2022

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

 

 

Sculpture Trail in the News

New Canaan Advertiser, March 30, 2022
Art with a Message
 
NewCanaanite: October 27, 2020
 
New Canaan Advertiser, October 21, 2020
 
New Canaan Advertiser: October 16, 2020
 
New Canaan Advertiser: August 14, 2020

Hamlet Hub: Thursday, June 11, 2020
New Canaan Land Trust Opens the New Canaan Sculpture Trail

Hamlet Hub: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary Celebrated Through Sculpture

New Canaan Advertiser: Saturday, April 4, 2020
Land Trust Previews New Canaan Sculpture Trail

LymeLine.com: February 27, 2020
‘After Alex’ by Boro of Old Lyme selected for Inaugural New Canaan Sculpture Trail

New Canaan Advertiser: February 25, 2020
NCLT Announces Works for Sculpture Trail

The Hour, February 18, 2020
Eight Artists Selected for Sculpture Trail Art Installation

HamletHub, February 14, 2020
NCLT Selects Artists for Sculpture Trail Exhibition

New Canaan Advertiser: November 15, 2019
NCLT Creates Outdoor Art Exhibition