Tag Archives: “Art in the Wild”

Community Corner: Notable April Events

March 31, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Capital 10-Miler April 1: Run for the arts at the annual Capital 10-Miler, a race that benefits several arts groups in the Harrisburg area. The race kicks off at 9 a.m. on City Island. For more information, visit www.capital10-miler.com.

Photo Workshop April 1: The Harrisburg Camera Club will hold its 7th Annual Light & Creativity workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Conference Center at Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale. Visit lightandcreativity.org.

Street Cleanup April 1: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for the annual Forster Street Cleanup, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Forster and 2nd streets. Volunteers will pick up litter, pull weeds and plant new, native seeds and young shrubs. Tools, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Visit hyp.org for details.

Spring HBG Flea April 1: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com.

Art in the Wild April 2-8: Meet the artists as they finish up installations for “Art in the Wild,” Wildwood Park’s annual outdoor art exhibit, April 2 at 1-3 p.m. On April 6, artist Beth Galston will deliver a lecture, “Recasting Nature,” at 7 p.m. at the Nature Center, and the exhibit opens April 8. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Networking Tips April 3: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host a presentation on networking with David Everett from the JDK Group, part of HYP’s 2017 Professional Development series, 6 to 8 p.m. at HACC Midtown 2, 1500 N. 3rd St. Visit hyp.org for details.

Addiction Seminar April 4: PinnacleHealth will host a discussion about addiction, 7 to 8 p.m. at Giant Food, 2300 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. Attendees will learn the signs and symptoms of addiction and where to go for answers and treatment. Visit pinnaclehealth.org.

Community Freedom Seder April 4: Attend the community Freedom Seder at Beth El Temple, 2637 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 7 to 9 p.m. The theme of the event is “We Are All Children of Immigrants: Welcoming the Stranger in an Unwelcoming World.” Visit bethelhbg.org.

First Friday April 7: Enjoy First Friday in Hummelstown, 6 to 9 p.m., with shopping, dining, raffle prizes, music and dancing. Guests are encouraged to bring donations for Morning Star Pregnancy Services. Call 717-991-5105 or email [email protected].

Understanding Islam April 7: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for Islam 101 to learn the basics of the faith, its many denominations and its widespread diversity, 7 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Easter at the Mall April 8: Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton Rd., will sponsor its annual free Easter event, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with entertainment, coloring, craft-making, face painting, prizes, egg hunts and special appearances by cartoon mascots and the Easter bunny. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

Flea Market April 8: The Flea Market & Car Corral at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, will open to the public at 8 a.m. An auction will begin at 11 a.m. with items and lots available for sale. Visit aacamusuem.org.

Earth Day Cleanup April 8: In honor of Earth Day, Wildwood Park asks you to help clean up its lake, streams and trails, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will pick up litter and pull invasive plants. Bring a water bottle. Snacks, tools and work gloves provided. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Golden Gloves April 8: The State Athletic Commission will host Golden Gloves Tournament Finals, 7 p.m. at Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Champions will go to the national tournament, April 30 to May 7 in Lafayette, La. For tickets, call 717-787-5720.

Egg Hunts April 8 & 15: Go egg hunting at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring along an Easter basket. Treats will be given to children ages 12 and under. For further details, visit AACAMuseum.org.

Dauphin County Egg Hunt April 9: Dauphin County holds its annual Easter egg hunt, 2 to 5 p.m., at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for children ages 2 to 9. There also will be a petting zoo and other children’s activities. Visit dauphincounty.org.

Easter Egg-Stravaganza April 9: Join New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, for its annual Easter Egg Hunt, 2 to 3 p.m. Children ages 2 to 8 can hunt for eggs and enjoy games, crafts and activities. Visit newcumberlandlibrary.org.

Gardening Workshop April 13: Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Perry County will present “Pollinator Friendly Gardening,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Perry County Penn State Extension office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield. Visit extension.psu.edu.

“From the Top” April 15: The York Symphony Orchestra and young area musicians will be featured in a national broadcast and live recording of NPR’s “From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley” at 4 p.m. at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 N. George St., York. For more details, visit yorksymphony.org.

Networking Mixer April 19: Join the West Shore Chamber and local business professionals at the Afternoon Networking Mixer, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Messiah College, 1 College Ave., Mechanicsburg. The event is free and open to members. Potential members may attend up to three free events per year. Visit wschamber.org.

Spring Book Sale April 20-23: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, will host its Spring Book and Media Sale on April 20, 2 to 8:30 p.m. (members’ preview), April 21, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., April 22, 1 to 5 p.m., and April 23, 1 to 4 p.m. (bag sale day). Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Casino Night April 21: Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania will hold a night of casino-style games, food and dancing in support of its mission at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg, 5 to 10 p.m. For details, visit vrocp.org.

3rd in The Burg April 21: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.

Great Harrisburg Cleanup April 22: Help beautify your city during the Great Harrisburg Cleanup, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various locations. For more information, visit www.cactricounty.org/great-harrisburg-litter-cleanup.

Flea & Festival April 22: Join 105.7 the X and Susquehanna Service Dogs for the “People’s Flea & Festival” from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Capital BlueCross, 2500 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. There will be flea market stands, arts and crafts and food vendors. Visit keystonehumanservices.org.

Earth Day Festival April 22: Mechanicsburg’s 8th annual Earth Day Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Market Street. Take in live music, locally grown food, vendors, exhibits, on-site animals and more. Visit mechanicsburgearthdayfest.com.

Tea Party April 22: The 4th Annual Little Miss Tea Party will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Our Saviour Lutheran, 420 N. Progress Ave., Harrisburg. The event includes hat competitions, kids fashion show, refreshments, games, entertainment, etiquette sessions and healthy initiatives. Visit littlemissteaparty.com.

Confederate Iconography April 22: National Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg, will host independent scholar Kevin Levin in a presentation, “Confronting Confederate Iconography in the Wake of the Charleston Massacre,” 1 to 2 p.m. Visit nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.

Smart Cycling Class April 22 & 23: Harrisburg Bicycle Club will offer a two-day cycling class at HACC Harrisburg campus to help riders gain confidence and skills, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact [email protected].

Shakespeare’s Birthday April 23: Celebrate the life of William Shakespeare, 4 to 7 p.m. at Gamut Theatre, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg, for the annual Spring Fling to support the theater. Tickets are $100 each or $150 per couple. Enjoy an open bar, silent and live auctions, entertainment and food. Visit gamuttheatre.org.

Meet the Candidates April 26: Friends of Midtown will host “City Council—Meet the Candidates Night,” 6 to 9 p.m. at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. All candidates are invited to share ideas on improving Harrisburg. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Book Sale April 26-29: Kline Library will host its Spring Book Sale at Paxtang Municipal Building, 3423 Derry St., Harrisburg, on April 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. (members’ preview sale), April 27 and 28, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and April 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit dcls.org.

Geopolitics April 27: Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. A reception and dinner precede the event. Visit fpa-harrisburg.org.

Spring Bird Walk April 29: Learn how to identify birds in the field with experts at Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Binoculars provided. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Independent Bookstore Day April 29: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with raffles, special savings, events and visits with children’s authors. Visit midtownscholar.com for more.

Race Against Racism April 29: Walk or run a 5K race along Harrisburg’s 6th and 7th street corridors to promote awareness of racism and injustice in our community and to support YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s racial justice programs, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit ywcahbg.org.

Wetlands Festival April 29: Celebrate Wildwood Park’s wetlands with a day of free, fun and educational activities, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy wildlife exhibits, used nature book sale, presentations by special guests and more. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Local Lunch April 29: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, held at Ted’s Bar and Grill Midtown, 1313 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Day of Dance April 30: Capitol Kickline, an annual event that celebrates dance education, will be held at 12:30 p.m. on the steps of the PA Capitol building. Dancers can join a flash-mob style kick-line performance and an afternoon of master classes at the Harrisburg Hilton, 1 N. 2nd St. Visit capitolkickline.com.

Taste of Jazz April 30: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Harrisburg will host A Taste of Jazz 2017 at the National Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg, 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy live performances, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres. Visit stpaulstoj2017.eventbrite.com.

Park Art: Creativity goes back to nature at “Art in the Wild.”

March 31, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

2015 installation by Sam White.

Visiting an art exhibit can be a stuffy affair, with works often protected behind glass in closed, climate-controlled environments. That is, unless you visit “Art in the Wild,” which is best experienced in sneakers and sweat pants.

“Art in the Wild” is Wildwood Park’s annual outdoor exhibit, the “gallery” consisting of the meadows, trees and marshes along the 3.1-mile nature trail. Walking along the circular path, visitors experience more than dozen exhibits made from mostly natural materials.

“’Art in the Wild’ is locally designed by community members to encourage play and fun and to motivate,” said park Manager Chris Rebert.

Common exhibit elements include sticks, logs, branches, clay, cloth, wooden pieces, animal bones, shells, rocks, moss, nutshells, gourds, wool yarn, natural fiber, plant dyes and lots of weaving, said Michelle Hornberger, assistant program director, Dauphin County Parks and Recreation.

“Artists are planning to use lots of vines, particularly Asiatic bittersweet,” Rebert said. “This is a win-win, because bittersweet is a common problem plant, and we need help cutting the invasive, non-native vine to keep it from damaging trees.”

Each exhibit is labeled with a numbered placard. You may have to look high, low, through the trees or in the water. You can pick up a brochure featuring a map with the approximate location at any point in the visual hunt.

At press time, artists had divulged few details on the creations that park visitors can expect to see this year. Past exhibits have ranged from abstract concepts such as harmony or fluidity, moral messages like the importance of recycling, or a whimsical set of swings woven from vines.

Those who create the trailside installations are split among school students, individuals and group artists. Anyone can apply, plus the selection committee sent invitations to an extensive list of schools, regional art institutions and artists.

“Our evaluation committee had a difficult time selecting,” Rebert said.

“Art in the Wild” is a judged competition and, this year, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein will do the judging. Known professionally as “The Myth Makers,” they not only critique outdoor art throughout the country, but also create it using natural materials. They will evaluate each exhibit according to visual and conceptual criteria.

“The judges are a rather big name in outdoor art,” said Hornberger.

“Art in the Wild” brings awareness to Wildwood’s mission: preserving, enhancing and interpreting the park’s resources. The event is just one of the park’s programs that teaches about the natural world. It also brings in extra visitors, increasing the potential for community involvement and public educational opportunities.

“Those who visit the art installation and the accompanying programming continue to surprise us,” Rebert said. “Some have never been to the park before, while others return year after year. We are seeing school art classes engaging more with the program, including using it as a learning, and perhaps portfolio, opportunity for aspiring artists.”

This month, visitors can even bring plastic bags to add to an outdoor sculpture. The Myth Makers will build a large-scale public art project as part of the opening festivities on April 8 and 9. When completed, “The Harrisburg Phoenix,” with its multi-colored plastic “feathers,” will be a symbol of rebirth for discarded plastic bags.

While touring the exhibit, don’t forget to vote for your favorite art installation. People’s Choice winners will be announced at the annual “Celebrate Wildwood” event on Sept. 25.

For folks who cannot walk the loop around Wildwood, Capital Area School for the Arts students produced a video highlighting the exhibits and the artists who created them. The video premieres at the Artists’ Reception and Awards Ceremony on April 8. It then will be available all year long in the nature center.

Exhibits are on display until November. “It is interesting to tour the exhibit multiple times and enjoy how each installation responds and changes with the seasons,” Rebert said.

If you’re an artist, it’s too late to contribute to this year’s exhibit, but applications for the 2017 event will be available in September at the Wildwood Lake website.

Art in the Wild runs April 9 through November at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.wildwoodlake.org

“Art in the Wild” April Events

To celebrate the opening of “Art in the Wild,” Wildwood Park will feature several special events this month.

April 3: Meet the Artists, 1 to 3 p.m.

April 7: Lecture by The Myth Makers, renowned artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

April 8-9: The Myth Makers construct a colorful, large-scale public art project, “The Harrisburg Phoenix.”

April 8: Artists’ Reception and Awards Ceremony, including premiere of a video created by CASA students.

April 9: “Art in the Wild” opens to the public.

Nature’s Classroom: Wildwood Park encourages learning, discovery in summer programs.

July 31, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

The frog slipped through the fingers of 6-year-old Spencer Clark.

“Get it, get it, get it,” he shouted, chasing it along the 3-mile Loop Trail at Wildwood Park on a hot July afternoon.

The weekly visits to Wildwood Park and the Olewine Nature Center have been a summer tradition for Spencer and his grandfather, James Clark of Harrisburg.

They usually start their visit with a hike on the Loop Trail to “get things warmed up,” Clark said. It also helps young Spencer burn off some energy before heading into the Olewine Nature Center, where displays and educational opportunities keep the boy occupied for at least an hour.

“He always learns something when we visit,” Clark said, chasing after his spunky grandson on the trail. “He’ll talk about it for days, asking when we can come back and telling his mom about the animals he saw.”

Self-guided activities at the park have always provided learning opportunities for the community, said Chris Rebert, park manager. Many overlook the fact that people can just walk a hiking trail, go bird watching or check out the art installations as part of “Art in the Wild.”

But not everyone has the initiative to discover the park on their own, Rebert said. That’s where summer programs become an attractive opportunity for new visitors of all ages to see what Wildwood Park has to offer.

If it weren’t for some of the programs at the park, 15-year-old Tiffany Ritter isn’t sure she’d have learned to love an afternoon lost in the woods. Often found walking around with a digital camera pushed up against her face, the Harrisburg girl has a collection of photographs showcasing the park’s birds, turtles and sunsets.

“I think there are a lot of beautiful things out here,” said Tiffany, who last year took the Photo Boot Camp class. “I feel calm when I’m here. I feel like I can capture a little bit of what’s beautiful and take it home with me.”

Through its programs, Rebert said, the park has reached groups of people that might otherwise never have stopped by.

“We’re looking to serve different age groups and different user groups from throughout the Dauphin County community,” he said. “We want people to walk away feeling they’ve made a connection to their local Greenway, and that this educational institution helps introduce them to lifelong hobbies.”

A lot of the programs, whether for adults or kids, focus on “nature made easy,” Rebert said. Many visitors feel comfortable knowing the trails are easy to walk and the park is a safe place to visit.

“There’s so much to explore here,” he said. “We can’t wait for people to come back and see what they might have missed.”

Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way in Harrisburg, features events throughout the summer. To find out more information, visit www.wildwoodlake.org or call 717-221-0292.

Into the Wild

Each summer, Wildwood Park offers many different types of classes for young people and even adults.

Junior Naturalist Day Camp

While the program quickly filled up earlier this summer, this weeklong program for kids 10 and 11 years old gives attendees a hands-on introduction to the park. Kicking off at the nature center each morning, campers learn naturalist and outdoor skills that help them identify animals and plant life.

Camp guides are always sure to include a little bit of fun in the learning process by getting students active on hikes, canoeing on Wildwood Lake and discovering a new way of observing nature through binoculars.

Outdoor Week

Geared for kids 12 to 14, Outdoor Week is a true adventure program. The weeklong day camp that kicks off at the end of July takes youth on a series of quests of discovery while teaching them outdoor skills. Students build a debris hut, practice their fishing skills, identify wild edibles and take a canoe ride on the Susquehanna River.

Science Series

New this year, the Science Series is for kids 10 to 15. For the true nature lover, this day camp teaches students species identification, natural history and ecology through hands-on experiences. Led by a naturalist, the students tackle the topics of wildlife, birds, streams and reptiles.

Photo Boot Camp

Nature photographers are often found snapping shots of wildlife and beautiful sunsets at Wildwood Park, said Chris Rebert, park manager. Because it seemed to be such a popular hobby among the adults, park volunteers decided to help introduce younger generations to the art.

Geared for kids 10 to 16, this program runs the first week of August and teaches young photographers the basics of mastering a digital SLR camera. With a little guidance, the students take their new skills into the park to photograph Wildwood Lake, the surrounding landscape and the park’s creatures.

For Adults

Volunteer-led walks bring visitors back to Wildwood Park each year, Rebert said. From flower walks that help visitors identify rare blossoms to a stress-relief walk that encourages relaxation in nature, these adult-focused programs help provide activities for visitors of all ages.

Beauty All Around Us: The natural, the manmade become one as Art in the Wild returns.

March 31, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Debbi Cowl remembers the first time she walked the trails of Wildwood Park in Dauphin County and stumbled upon the whimsical creatures and colorful creations left behind by artists.

As the director of Tender Years Child Development Center and an artist herself, Cowl desperately wanted to introduce her students to Wildwood Park’s annual Art in the Wild program.

“We really wanted to be committed to participating this year,” Cowl said.

Beginning its third year this month, “Art in the Wild” will turn Wildwood Park into an al fresco gallery for 17 artists who will display their work along the 3.1-mile trail loop.

Good to her word, Cowl and her students will be part of it. Along with kindergarten teacher Carol Lauver, Cowl will fill a tree with birdhouses created by about 20 students as a way to contribute to the park’s evolving program.

The theme for this year’s exhibit is “Reflections,” said Chris Rebert, manager at Wildwood Park and Olewine Nature Center. Artists can interpret that however they like, but all of the projects must be made from mostly natural materials, he said.

Winners for first through third place will be announced on opening day, April 11. Three top winners also will be selected for a people’s choice award, where visitors can vote on their favorite exhibits throughout the summer. Those winners will be announced Sept. 27 at Celebrate Wildwood.

The year’s late snow proved a challenge for artists who needed to start setting up as early as mid-March. By early April, depending on how warm it is, the poison ivy could be an issue for those who have to work in the brush. Despite these concerns, things were shaping up well for this year’s exhibit, Rebert said.

All from PA

Art in the Wild allows artists to bring in their own items, as long as they aren’t invasive plants, and create pieces using whatever inspiration nature might provide.

Sometimes, Rebert said, artists will even use dead materials or invasive vines already in the park, such as the oriental bittersweet vine, helping to benefit both the park and the artist.

While previous years have hosted artists from throughout the region, including three from out of state and one from Canada, each of the 17 artists represented this year are from Pennsylvania. When they submit applications to be considered for the exhibit, a panel of five jurors chooses from the ideas without knowing the names of the applicants, Rebert said.

This process allows everyone from professional artists to hobbyists and even school students to be included.

With more than 85,000 park visitors a year, mostly for walking, running or to participate in a park program, Art in the Wild gives Wildwood Park the chance to reach a larger group of people, Rebert said.

“We feel like Dauphin County Parks has pioneered an exciting format for the discovery of art in nature,” he said. “We want to show people that there is beauty throughout Pennsylvania’s landscape, and sometimes it can be intentional art.”

Inventive and Wonderful

Each year, Cowl and Lauver look forward to walking through Art in the Wild. Artists themselves, they admire the ingenuity that the program offers those with a creative spirit.

Their students will be creating birdhouses made from wood kits and coconut shells, and they’ve even started looking for natural items to decorate with, such as natural dyes from berries and carrots.

“Projects like these go beyond standardized testing that a lot of the public schools have to do,” Cowl said. “By working with the children on these projects, they have the chance to learn about habitats, natural resources and critical thinking when it comes to building something. These are the connections to learning we want to provide.”

Incorporating art with early childhood education has the power to leave a lasting impression, said Lauver, who has taught kindergarten at the school for 13 years. Growing up in New York, she remembers when an art teacher said her painting was good enough for an exhibit. From that moment on, Lauver said, she thought of herself as an artist.

Kathleen Swain of Susquehanna Township has also found inspiration. An avid knitter, she will use felting, the process of creating very dense fibers through knitting, to create more than 20 different animals to place in the exhibit.

In addition to birds and birdhouses, she will knit turtles, snakes and Canada geese that she’ll hang from the trees, place on logs and otherwise position in their natural habitats.

“I think Art in the Wild is one of the best things that park has done,” Swain said. “Some of the exhibits are just so inventive and wonderful.”

As a member of the Friends of Wildwood Park and an avid hiker, Swain waited until after her daughter’s wedding last year to get involved.

Now, she might spend up to 10 hours making a single bird to hang in her display. Working with the theme of reflection, Swain is making all of her creatures in pairs and posing them to look at each other, much like a parent and child.

Unlike the many sweaters, blankets and mittens she’s knitted in the past, a project of this size has taken much of her time since Thanksgiving, she said. But the experience is one she doesn’t regret.

“When you visit, just be prepared to walk the entire loop,” she said. “There are so many beautiful, unique exhibits, that you don’t want to miss any. Keep an open mind and be alert. You don’t know what beauty might surprise you.”

“Art in the Wild” will be on display April 11 to Oct. 31 at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Park Way, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.dauphincounty.org and search for “Art in the Wild.” A brochure featuring a map of the displays is available at the Olewine Nature Center.

A Walk on the Wild Side: At Wildwood Park, nature’s creations meet human creativity.

March 31, 2014 | by Alexis Dow Campbell

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.

Tag Archives: “Art in the Wild”

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