Kevin Duffy, Hope Rising, granite, 22" x 15" x 6".

Art on the Trails 2020, presented by The Southborough Open Land Foundation in collaboration with Southborough artist Catherine Weber is officially underway at Elaine & Philip Beals Preserve. Juried by artist and public art administrator Hilary Zelson, this year's exhibition is themed "Rising Up." Artists responded to the exhibit's call for art with installations that consider how we face the challenges that crop up in our lives, and how the human spirit continues to prosper despite those challenges. This theme is especially apt given the unprecedented situation we're currently living through. Art on the Trails responded to this situation by livestreaming the exhibition's opening instead of holding a reception. Art on the Trails 2020 takes place throughout the beautiful Beals Preserve, offering an environment in which viewers can enjoy the installations while following social distancing guidelines. Art on the Trails 2020 encourages the viewer to think about the same question that the artists did as they created their installations: reflecting on how they persevered through–and continue to confront–the challenges that COVID-19 has created. Art on the Trails is accepting poetry submissions in response to the installations through July 30, and there will be a poetry reading and closing reception on Sunday, September 13 from 3:00–5:00 p.m. Beals Preserve is located off Route 30 in Southborough, Massachusetts. To learn how to get there and where to park, visit solf.org/beals-preserve. For more information on Art on the Trails 2020, visit artonthetrails.com.

Robin Crocker, Beckett's Maze in-progress photo.

The parking lot at Jamestown Arts Center is currently the site of an environmental installation. Beckett's Maze: Go On is a multi-colored painted maze on the pavement by Rhode Island-based artist Robin Crocker. Crocker modeled the maze after the ancient labyrinth found in Chartres Cathedral, circa 1200 CE. She was also influenced by Samuel Beckett's novel "The Unnameable," which is quoted throughout the installation. Viewers will find the words "You must go on" at the entrance of the maze, and "I can't go on" and "I'll go on" stenciled on gold medallions alternating every six feet as the maze progresses. The maze is meant to be walked through until the participant reaches the end, offering a meditation as they follow the pathway, and a communal experience when they finally reach the center. "In the midst of this global pandemic, faced with deeply rooted social injustice and political divide, now is a crucial time to contemplate our role, our impact, as part of this whole," said Crocker about the installation. "A journey through Beckett's Maze offers an opportunity for this much needed introspection." Crocker drew on Beckett's musings on consciousness to create an experience that mimics the journey through life, marked in equal parts by suffering ("I can't go on") and joy ("I'll go on"). Much like life's journey, Beckett's Maze will be over whenever fate decides: the installation will end once the paint fades from the pavement and it won't be repainted, so don't wait to experience Beckett's Maze. Jamestown Arts Center is located at 18 Valley Street in Jamestown, Rhode Island. For more information, visit jamestownartcenter.org/exhibitions.

Alfred Glover, section of Garden Grove.

Although Cahoon Museum of American Art is still closed due to COVID-19, the outdoor installation Alfred Glover: Garden Grove is currently on view for the public. Part of the musuem's Streetside series, Garden Grove is a drive-by exhibition visible from the street along Route 28 in Cotuit, Massachusetts. Created by artist Alfred Glover, the exhibit consists of whimsical tree sculptures made of metal and wood, marked by giant ginkgo and philodendron leaves, beautiful flowers and strange–yet endearing–animals like nesting birds and spotted dogs. Glover has worked as an artist for over four decades and is known regionally for his sculptures, inspired by memories of his childhood and his travels across the world. "Most of these works on display at the museum have stories," Glover said. "Some are inspired by my childhood; others emerge as I work on the pieces. Sometimes the animals inspire me after the work is finished." Glover's sculptures are made with aluminum and painted with vibrant, durable colors designed to stand up to the elements for months of outdoor weather. In the midst of the current crisis, Garden Grove offers the viewer a much-needed slice of whimsy, color and cheer. Cahoon Museum of American Art is located at 4676 Falmouth Road in Cotuit, Massachusetts. For more information, visit cahoonmuseum.org/alfred-glover-garden-grove.

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