Photography by Karen Carlson
There are lots of great reasons to strap on your sneaks and visit Harrisburg’s Wildwood Park in the spring: leaves are turning green, birds are coming back, and, for the second year, an exhibition of nature-inspired art is lining Wildwood’s sprawling trails.
“Art in the Wild” opens on April 12 and will feature outdoor art installations by 15 artists—up from nine last year—in Wildwood’s lush setting. According to planning committee members Elizabeth Johnson and Jim Caufield, the exhibit fits right in with Wildwood’s larger purpose.
“'[Art in the Wild]’ is a terrific match with our mission,” said Johnson. “Wildwood Park welcomes visitors to enjoy and learn about its natural and cultural resources. ‘Art In The Wild’ is one of the many park programs that teach people about the natural world. We’re always looking to attract new visitors and ‘invigorate’ our loyal users.”
Caufield added that the environmental art installations allow visitors to see positive human interactions with nature.
“Our support group, the Friends of Wildwood, and our volunteer ‘Art In The Wild’ committee are very keen on visitors enjoying Wildwood through artistic interpretations,” he said. “The exhibit is one more way to bring awareness to Wildwood’s mission—preserving, enhancing and interpreting the park’s resources.”
Everyone was invited to submit a proposal for entry in the exhibit; it wasn’t limited to professional artists. The only rules were that artwork had to be “responsive and sensitive to the environment and aesthetic of the site’s landscape and surroundings” and durable enough to withstand being outdoors for seven months, according to the submission criteria. The planning committee reached out to area schools, colleges and arts organizations and received a surprising response.
“Elementary and high school students, teachers, architects, professional artists, etc., sent us proposals—even some from Canada, New York and South Carolina,” said Johnson.
Fifteen artists were selected to participate, and they began the installation process in mid-March. Installations are, by nature (no pun intended), public, but artists are encouraged to engage park visitors in their work. Artists will be on hand for many public programs throughout the exhibit, starting with a lecture and workshop by Warwick, N.Y.-based artist Dan Mack, who had a piece in last year’s exhibit and is now serving as a judge and lecturer.
“I was so impressed with this event last year, I started a sister one here in New York,” Mack said. “Wildwood has pioneered a very exciting format for the discovery of art and nature.”
Mack will present a lecture on April 10, which will focus on the use of natural elements in art, a subject he knows a thing or two about. His renowned rustic furniture has found some pretty prestigious homes, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He also will conduct a workshop called “Working Rustic: A One-Day Introduction” on April 12, in conjunction with the opening of “Art in the Wild,” during which participants will learn to create a chair from branches, saplings and other natural materials.
In addition to these programs, Wildwood is toying with some other unique ways to engage the public with the art installations.
“Various interactive events are being considered [like] guided tours of the installations, poetry readings in the woods, and on-site artist visits,” explained Caufield.
The works are all judged immediately upon installation, and first, second and third prizes will be awarded. The committee has also added a “People’s Choice Award” this year.
“Visitors to the site will be able to vote for their own favorite installations, the winner of which will be announced on June 30,” said Johnson.
Ultimately, the organizers of “Art in the Wild” hope that the exhibit encourages visitors to connect with nature.
“Nature is the great leveler,” said Mack. “Everybody has primary experience with nature. They feel alive in nature. To show art in such an environment returns the art-making process to where it began—as the way humans recognize, respond and respect the awesome forces of nature.”
“Art in the Wild” opens on April 12 and runs through Oct. 31 along the trails of Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. Dan Mack’s introductory lecture is April 10, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Nature Center. He also will lead a day-long workshop on April 12. For more information, visit www.wildwoodlake.org.
