Weekend Day Trip: Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School in Hamilton

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Outside allows us to observe social distancing advisories while offering a delightful opportunity for viewers to enjoy a walk among 50 beautiful pieces of art set amidst the 100-acre campus of Pingree School in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

To keep everyone safe,  all visitors must wear masks, remain six feet apart from other visitors not in their party, and refrain from touching sculptures or signs. The public is invited to view the exhibit during daylight hours on weekends and during holidays when school is not in session (October 12, and November 25–27).

Go here for a free electronic guide and map via the Findful app

 

Pack a picnic and head north…

   

    

 

Be sure to check out this thought provoking sculpture “Humanity Unravelled” by Concord sculptor, Elisa Adams. 

   

 

Set aside extra time to look carefully at this guitar sculpture (below).

 

Look closely – what do you see? Can you find the bike pedals or tweezers? Take turns playing “I Spy” with your family / friends – you will be amazed by what objects are used in this sculpture.

 

A special thank you to Concord resident, Hedi Charde, for sending us a few of her photos from her visit!

   

How many different animal sculptures can you find?

 

 

   

Explore the grounds, including the Pingree Farm at bottom of the hill.

 

Take some time one weekend to see this fresh air, free exhibit – you won’t be disappointed!

 

Weekend Outing Ideas

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ROCKPORT, MA

In just one hour you can get to the charming coastal town of Rockport, Massachusetts where you’ll find scenic views, delightful shops and an abundance of fabulous galleries.

Wear comfortable shoes so you can walk along rocks on the jetty or take steps down to the beach.

 

Work up an appetite and then grab a lobster roll or clam chowder, followed by ice cream or candy at various spots in town.

 

Find our inner artist – visit Motif #1 and see why artists call this fish shack “Motif #1″n i, an inspiration for so many artists over the years. Rockport has an abundance of benches located around harbor which will allow you to sit down and sketch the famous shack or just sit admire the beauty of the harbor.

Motif Number 1, located on Bradley Wharf in Rockport, Massachusetts, is a replica of a former fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as “the most often-painted building in America.” Wikipedia

Read the story behind it in New Englnd Today, Travel

                     

 

Read about more things to do and see in Rockport – such as walking tours, the Headlands, Cape Ann Light Station, Bearskin Neck, Dogtown Tours, Babson Word Rocks, fishing charters, Loblolly Cove, Sandy Bay Historical Society & Museum and much more.

 

BOSTON SEAPORT / FAN PIER

     

In the mood for an urban adventure? How about Boston Seaport / Fan Pier area? If you haven’t been there lately, you’ll be in for a wonderful surprise. There is so much to see and do – day or night and no shortage of delicious dining options.

   

Stroll along Harbor Walk which encircles the 21 acres of Fan Pier.

        

Pop into a Museum  – Take your pick – Institute for Contemporary Art (shown below), Boston Children’s Museum. Boston Fire Museum, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – to name a few…

   

Grab a bite at a fabulous restaurant / cafe or take it to go and enjoy your meal while sitting on one of the hundreds of places to sit along Harbor Walk.

   

You won’t be disappointed. The views can’t be beat!

The Umbrella Arts Center announces new series of fall classes!

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The Umbrella @ Home Offers Flexible Online Art Class Options
#StayHome #StaySafe #StayCreative – Since its spring closure due to COVID-19, The Umbrella Arts Center has directed its energies to transforming its expansive array of arts programs – from classes, summer camps and stage productions to gala events and public festivals — into virtual, asynchronous or social-distanced outdoors formats.

For this fall, instead of emphasizing a return to in-person classes, the organization has continued to invest in and refine The Umbrella @ Home offerings, delivering virtual arts education experiences through a variety of distance-learning methods and platforms.

Using a combination of Zoom, asynchronous video demos, DIY activity kits and other tools, The Umbrella’s teachers have created dozens of course offerings for all ages in Painting, Fiber, Drawing, Design and Dance/Movement. The Umbrella’s expanded Ceramics program offers virtual and video instruction, as well as local curbside clay pickup and drop-off kiln firing services at 40 Stow Street. Performing Arts offerings range from jazz and Bollywood dance classes and private theater audition coaching. And, The Umbrella Arts & Environment program has expanded its popular outdoors arts and nature exploration programs.

To inspire its community to remain creative through the pandemic, the organization is also inviting all class participants, teachers and community artists share their favorite creations in a fall exhibition, #DiscoverYourArts Showcase.

Fall I session adult classes start as early as September 11. Explore and register for the variety of classes at TheUmbrellaArts.org/Classes or contact 978-371-0820 x204.

Why You Should “Go Out Doors” in West Concord, MA

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Did You Know that There is New Rail Trail Art on the West Concord Bike Path?

Yes there is!  Concord’s own Umbrella Arts Center has created a  Whimsical “Go Out Doors” art scene that brightens the West Concord Bike Path.

Inspired by NYC’s En Plein Air doors on the Highline, “Go Out Doors” is West Concord’s newest public art exhibition, installed along the recently opened section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Designed to raise awareness of local bike trails as part of an interconnected system throughout the region, this exhibition will run from July 1 – November 30, 2020.

A project of The Umbrella Arts Center program, Go Out Doors features fourteen doors painted by seven regional artists that “explore a world you might find if you open your front door and adventure outside,” says Nancy Lippe, director of The Umbrella Arts & Environment program.

A variety of door images celebrate nature, our senses and outdoor activity. The majority of doors are sited between the Commonwealth Avenue entrance and the Assabet River bridge, with another grouping at the Powder Mill Road entrance.

Contributing artists are Kayo Burman, Karla Collins, Howie Green, Marlowe Miller, Caroline Provost, Rebecca Tuck and Sophy Tuttle. Additional artists may be commissioned for a future expansion to other locations.

Installation of the doors takes place over a three-week period, per the request of the Town Bruce Freeman Bike Advisory Committee to minimize large gatherings.

Funded by the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Foundation for Metrowest, the exhibition also seeks to inspire visitors to slow down, notice, and explore. The timing of the exhibition dovetails well with a community emerging from quarantine and eager for outdoor activity and art. Organizers remind exhibition visitors that social distancing and masks are required when out in public.

More information can be found at TheUmbrellaArts.org/Go-Out-Doors.

The Umbrella Arts Community Center is adding many “Things to Do” in Concord Ma!

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The Umbrella had its grand reopening this weekend in Concord MA.  It was amazing. If you weren’t able to make it, you need to stop in. The building is beautiful and The Umbrella is offering amazing opportunities for our community to enjoy the arts! 

Here are some of the highlights from the Grand Reopening:

They had many activities throughout the afternoon. These included:

  • Open rehearsals of the upcoming theater performance 42nd Street
  • A woodworking and furniture making demonstration
  • Bollywood Dance: Don’t know what this is? Contact the Umbrella to find out!
  • A weaving workshop
  • A ceramics demonstration
  • Tours of the new classrooms and Makerspace

We were able to visit many of the studio artists. They were very welcoming and we loved looking at and hearing about their work. 

If you brought your children, there were activities for all ages related to The Umbrella’s current exhibit in conjunction with the National Park Service. The Gallery contained an exhibition of works by Nicholas Mancini, the 2018-2019 Umbrella Artist in Residence. We were able to meet Jess Muise, the curator of the exhibit and Visual Arts Manager. We visited the box office where we could purchase tickets to Greater Boston’s Newest Professional Theater The Umbrella Stage Company and the upcoming Lyle Lovett Concert. And on our way out, Reasons to be Cheerful was serving ice cream in an ice cream truck, courtesy of the Umbrella. Great way to top off a great afternoon!

The Umbrella has A LOT of upcoming events so keep reading Living Concord’s weekly email so you don’t miss any of them!

If you want to mark your calendar here are some highlights:

  • September 22: Artist Demo Nancy Winship Milliken
  • September 27: 42nd Street Opens
  • October 5: Family Drop-In Activity Day

And you can always Make a Night of It in Concord! The Umbrella would like you to make the most of your night out in the historic Concord Center Cultural District. Find special Dinner-and-a-Show and Hotel partner offers from Trail’s End Cafe, Adelita, Concord’s Colonial Inn, Best Western Concord, and more at TheUmbrellaArts.org/Partner-Offers.