The 2022 Sculptures

 

A diversity of works reflecting on the theme “Open Space for Everyone” featured in the 2022 New Canaan Sculpture Trail.

Barb Wire Fence, 2022

Foam, steel, fiberglass, wood, and paint

Barb Wire Fence is placed near the entrance to the GreenLink Trail that connects Irwin Park and the New Canaan Nature Center. With Barb Wire Fence, Bernsten draws on the powerful image of a barbed wire to reflect on the theme of the Sculpture Trail – and a long history of using barbed wires to divide and separate us from each other.

Artist: Tom Berntsen. (Returning artist from inaugural 2020 New Canaan Sculpture Trail)
Location: GreenLink – Irwin Park to New Canaan Nature Center
Parking: Barb Wire Fence is placed along the beginning of the GreenLink on the side of Weed Street. Probably best to park at Irwin Park and walk across Weed Street to trail. Or, you can park at the Nature Center and walk to Weed Street.
Viewing/Access: Barb Wire Fence is placed between the trail and Weed Street to allow for viewing from both sides.
Purchase price: $12,000
https://www.tsberntsen.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/greenlink-irwin-nature/

 

Kawa 1 & 2, River-dancers-toe dancer series

Stainless Steel

 

Kawa 1 & 2 are part of John BonSignore’s River-dancers-toe dancer series. BonSignore’s captures the toe dancers in a “Moment of Movement.” Stainless steel is the sculptor’s medium of choice for its infinite durability, which enhances a moment of movement and gesture in each pose: smooth, precise, with an elegant conclusion of continuous flow.

Artist: John BonSignore
Location: Hannan-Eberstadt Field (Rt. 123 and Canoe Hill Road).
Parking: There is a small pull-off on Canoe Hill Road, which can accommodate 3-4 cars.
Viewing/Access: Kawa I & II were placed along a mown path in the center of the meadow. The path is accessible through an opening in the stone wall, at the northern side (Canoe Hill side) of the preserve.
Purchase price: $46,160 (for the pair, can be sold separately)
https://www.johnbonsignore.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/hannan/

 

Square Knot III, 2020

Welded & Powder Coated Aluminum Tubing

 

A returning artist from the inaugural 2020 Sculpture Trail, Gilbert Boro draws on sailing knots as his inspiration to explore the harmony between strength and grace. The larger-than-life sculpture promises to engage visitors to New Canaan throughout the five-month exhibition.

Artist: Gilbert Boro
Location: New Canaan Town Hall, 77 Main Street, New Canaan
Preserve Website: N/A
Parking: Ample parking is available at town hall and on Main Street
Viewing/Access: The installation is located on the front lawn of the New Canaan Town hall
Purchase price: $75,960
https://www.gilbertboro.com/

Titanosaurus II, 2021

Marine-grade composite, stainless steel hardware, marine grade paint and finish

 

Carlos Davila is a returning artist from the inaugural Sculpture Trail. In 2020, Davila’s Sugar Maple was placed in the scenic meadow at Livingston Higley Preserve. This year, Davila has delivered another large-scale sculpture – that of a stylized, abstracted, contemporary dinosaur which is appropriately placed in an area known as “Dinosaur Swamp” on the GreenLink near the New Canaan Nature Center.

 

Artist: Carlos Davila
Location: GreenLink Irwin Park to New Canaan Land Trust
Parking: Ample parking at Nature Center or Irwin Park
Viewing/Access: The installation is located in an area known as “Dinosaur Swamp” not far from GreenLink trail near the New Canaan Nature Center. Davila encourages interaction with his sculpture (see artist statement).
Purchase price: $12,000
https://www.carlos-davila.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/greenlink-irwin-nature/

Floating Torii Gate, 2022

Stainless steel on tree trunks

 

Domenic Esposito’s Floating Torii Gate borrows from the Japanese torii, a traditional gate that is found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Floating Torii Gate delineates the entrance to nature, a hallowed space as Esposito describes it.

Artist: Domenic Esposito
Location: Still Pond Preserve
Parking: The closest access to park in the parking area across from 778 Silvermine Road
Viewing/Access: The Sculpture can be viewed from the trail about 150 feet from the parking lot.
Purchase price: $12,500
https://www.domenicesposito.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/stillpond/

Threading Diagram, 2022

Ottertex waterproof canvas

 

Collaborating artists Sandra Gibson and Luis Recoder installed Threading Diagram along the newest Land Trust trail GreenLinkOenoke Lane. The work is reminiscent of the artist Christo who was renowned for his large-scale, site-specific, environmental installations which often wrapped landscape with fabric.

Artists: Sandra Gibson and Luis Recoder
Location: GreenLink Trail: Oenoke Lane
Parking: Parking is available on a small pull-off across from 129 Oenoke Lane, but we recommend walking to this trail.
Viewing/Access: Can be viewed along the trail not far from the entrance across from 67 Oenoke Lane.
http://www.gibsonrecoder.com/
Purchase price: $1,700. Custom, site-specific installation.
Preserve website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/greenlink-oenoke/

The Last 42 Seeds, 2019

wood, polymer, metal

 

Nicolae Golici’s The Last 42 Seeds is a dystopian representation of an environmental crisis where there are only 42 seeds, the germ of life on earth, left on the planet. Made of recycled bottles, visitors will see statistics on the bottles that refer to the dire situation that plant species face due to climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species and pollution.

Artist: Nicolae Golici
Location: Still Pond Preserve
Parking: There are three access points for the Still Pond Preserve. The closest access to the sculpture is the parking area across from 778 Silvermine Road. The site can also be reached from the southern (Kelley/Audubon) portion of the property, park across from 161 Cedar Lane or the northern (Hicks) portion of the property, use the trailhead directly across from 514 Silvermine Road.
Viewing/Access: Placed in center of Council Ring next to the Silvermine-Fowler Meadow and Still Pond, visitors sit in council ring seats or walk up close to see the sculpture
Purchase price: $12,000
https://www.golici-sculpture.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/stillpond/

Chaos and Calm, 2022

High temperature porcelain flowers

Simone Kestelman’s installation Chaos and Calm in the woodlands of the newest trail of the Land Trust, the GreenLinkOenoke Lane is a wonderful surprise as one turns the corner from the bridge right off from Oenoke Lane. Placed in an area recently cleared of invasive plants, the 365 flowers represent each day of a year, and seek to inspire observers to deal with everyday challenges that we all face.

Artist: Simone Kestelman
Location: GreenLink Trail: Oenoke Lane
Parking: Parking is available on a small pull-off across from 129 Oenoke Lane, but we recommend walking to this trail.
Viewing/Access: Can be viewed from the trail not far from the bridge at the entrance or admired by walking off trail (while not touching)
Purchase Price: $55,000
https://www.simonekestelman.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/greenlink-oenoke/

The Wind in the Waves, 2019

Steel

 

Chris Plaisted’s The Wind in the Waves is inspired by his love of water. Fittingly, Plaisted placed this sculpture, comprised of undulating, dynamic curves symbolizing waves, in Still Pond. Made of welded steel and painted reflective blue, the sculpture conveys a sense of water – whether a lake, river or ocean.

 

Artist: Chris Plaisted
Location: Still Pond Preserve
Parking: There are three access points for the Still Pond Preserve. The closest access to the sculpture is the parking area across from 778 Silvermine Road. The site can also be reached from the southern (Kelley/Audubon) portion of the property, park across from 161 Cedar Lane or the northern (Hicks) portion of the property, use the trailhead directly across from 514 Silvermine Road.
Viewing/Access: Placed in Still Pond next to the Silvermine-Fowler Meadow and in front of the bench facing the pond, visitors sit and enjoy the sculpture and the repose of the preserve.
Purchase price: $1,700
https://cfplaistedsculpture.com/
Preserve Website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/stillpond/

Brickhead Truth, 2014

High fire ceramic blocks

James Tyler’s Brickhead Truth is part of a series of Brickhead Assemblage sculptures. Brickhead Truth is a unique colossal head that invites us to identify with the world’s ceramic heritages. It, like the other sculptures in the series, is evocative of the Pre-Columbian terra-cottas of the ancient Americas.

Artist: James Tyler
Location: Carriage Barn Arts Center, 681 South Avenue
Parking: Parking available at the Carriage Barn
Viewing/Access: View in the Carriage Barn front courtyard
Purchase price: $49,000
https://tylersculpture.com/
Carriage Barn Website: https://carriagebarn.org/