Annual Sculpture Symposium hosted by Andres Institute in
Brookline
By GEORGE PELLETIER, Correspondent,
Nashua Telegraph Encore 9-8-2011
IF YOU GO
Several events are planned for the 13th annual
International Sculpture Symposium. All are free.
For more information,
visit www.andresinstitute.org.
Sept. 11: Opening ceremony at Brookline Town
Hall, 3-5 p.m.
Sept. 14-28: Observing sculptors at work.
Sept 17, 24 and Oct. 1: Guided tour of Sculpture
Park, 10 a.m.
Sept 22: Brookline Art Show, sponsored by the Simon Rios photo Esfandyar Moradpour, right, with
institute at the Brookline Public Library, Paul Andres, the owner of the land. His piece is called House of Wish.
6-8 p.m.
Sept. 24: Public pot-luck dinner at the institute,
6-8 p.m.
Oct. 2: Closing ceremony with sculpture unveiling
and dedications, 3-6 p.m.
The Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, a coalescence of art and nature, will host its 13th annual International
Sculpture Symposium from Sept. 11-Oct. 2.
“We’ve invited four artists from around the world,” the institute’s Anna Szok said.
“And the way it works is that these artists come and stay with local families in Brookline or Hollis, and the
families basically house the artist, give them their spare room for three weeks and get them to Bear Mountain
in Brookline in the morning – that’s their responsibility.”
From there, volunteers will bring the artists lunch and dinner. The art of the deal comes down to community
service, some done by families, some by businesses, Szok said.
“These artists will collaborate to create new works for our 140-acre Sculpture Park on the slopes of Bear
Mountain just off Route 13 in Brookline,” Szok said. “The Sculpture Park has 65 works of art along miles of
hiking trails and is open free of charge year-round during daylight hours.”
This year’s symposium features these sculptors:
Jon Barlow Hudson, of Ohio.
Gricelda Lopez, of Chile.
Alexandra Harley, of the United Kingdom.
Hassan Kamel, of Egypt.
The theme is “What’s in your heart?”
“By Wednesday of the first week, the artists will have selected their stone,” provided they’re working in
stone, Szok said, “so that we can get it up to the studio. The week after, each artist will determine their own
sculpture site.”
Most of the artists will use granite from the quarry on the property.
However, “Some artists may choose to work in metal, steel, something along those lines,” Szok said. “There’s
a lot of welding and grinding going on.
“The symposium is open to the public, so anybody who’s interested in seeing how the creative process works
for these artists is welcome to walk around, bring lunches and eat with the artists. They just love it when you
bring food,” Szok said with a laugh.
“It gives you a chance to see what the stone looks like before they really chip into it, and then, perhaps, if you
come at the end, during sculpture placement – which is always exciting – you’ve got heavy equipment and
you’ve got nervous artists; it’s awesome.”
Szok added that visitors can see all 65 sculptures in a day, “but you really have to move along.”
The institute’s heaviest sculpture is “The Phoenix.”
“It has a beautiful view to the west,” Szok said. “That was built on a stone already there, where the sculptor
just leveled off the top and then brought in a huge excavator and placed the other four stones that comprise
the piece.”
Szok said people can take what they want from visiting the Andres Institute – figuratively speaking, of course.
“I love giving tours up on the mountain, because that’s just a neat way to see how people take in all the stuff
and how they react,” she said. “There are so many sculptures up there, there is something for everybody to
love and there’s always one you’re going to hate.
“And that’s great – just great – just as long as you’re up there and thinking. I think people are amazed that
something like this resource exists in southern New Hampshire; it’s almost like a best-kept secret.”
As for the double-whammy effect, Szok said, “They know us better around the world than they do here. And
visitors can’t believe it’s free or that they can bring their dog with them here when they go for a hike.
“And the sculptures can be touched. This is not a marbled stairway museum where you have to wear your
Sunday best and behave a certain way. It’s far more accessible.
“Even if you don’t like art, nature is great up there, too. And if you like both, then you’re in heaven.”
Brookline
By GEORGE PELLETIER, Correspondent,
Nashua Telegraph Encore 9-8-2011
IF YOU GO
Several events are planned for the 13th annual
International Sculpture Symposium. All are free.
For more information,
visit www.andresinstitute.org.
Sept. 11: Opening ceremony at Brookline Town
Hall, 3-5 p.m.
Sept. 14-28: Observing sculptors at work.
Sept 17, 24 and Oct. 1: Guided tour of Sculpture
Park, 10 a.m.
Sept 22: Brookline Art Show, sponsored by the Simon Rios photo Esfandyar Moradpour, right, with
institute at the Brookline Public Library, Paul Andres, the owner of the land. His piece is called House of Wish.
6-8 p.m.
Sept. 24: Public pot-luck dinner at the institute,
6-8 p.m.
Oct. 2: Closing ceremony with sculpture unveiling
and dedications, 3-6 p.m.
The Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, a coalescence of art and nature, will host its 13th annual International
Sculpture Symposium from Sept. 11-Oct. 2.
“We’ve invited four artists from around the world,” the institute’s Anna Szok said.
“And the way it works is that these artists come and stay with local families in Brookline or Hollis, and the
families basically house the artist, give them their spare room for three weeks and get them to Bear Mountain
in Brookline in the morning – that’s their responsibility.”
From there, volunteers will bring the artists lunch and dinner. The art of the deal comes down to community
service, some done by families, some by businesses, Szok said.
“These artists will collaborate to create new works for our 140-acre Sculpture Park on the slopes of Bear
Mountain just off Route 13 in Brookline,” Szok said. “The Sculpture Park has 65 works of art along miles of
hiking trails and is open free of charge year-round during daylight hours.”
This year’s symposium features these sculptors:
Jon Barlow Hudson, of Ohio.
Gricelda Lopez, of Chile.
Alexandra Harley, of the United Kingdom.
Hassan Kamel, of Egypt.
The theme is “What’s in your heart?”
“By Wednesday of the first week, the artists will have selected their stone,” provided they’re working in
stone, Szok said, “so that we can get it up to the studio. The week after, each artist will determine their own
sculpture site.”
Most of the artists will use granite from the quarry on the property.
However, “Some artists may choose to work in metal, steel, something along those lines,” Szok said. “There’s
a lot of welding and grinding going on.
“The symposium is open to the public, so anybody who’s interested in seeing how the creative process works
for these artists is welcome to walk around, bring lunches and eat with the artists. They just love it when you
bring food,” Szok said with a laugh.
“It gives you a chance to see what the stone looks like before they really chip into it, and then, perhaps, if you
come at the end, during sculpture placement – which is always exciting – you’ve got heavy equipment and
you’ve got nervous artists; it’s awesome.”
Szok added that visitors can see all 65 sculptures in a day, “but you really have to move along.”
The institute’s heaviest sculpture is “The Phoenix.”
“It has a beautiful view to the west,” Szok said. “That was built on a stone already there, where the sculptor
just leveled off the top and then brought in a huge excavator and placed the other four stones that comprise
the piece.”
Szok said people can take what they want from visiting the Andres Institute – figuratively speaking, of course.
“I love giving tours up on the mountain, because that’s just a neat way to see how people take in all the stuff
and how they react,” she said. “There are so many sculptures up there, there is something for everybody to
love and there’s always one you’re going to hate.
“And that’s great – just great – just as long as you’re up there and thinking. I think people are amazed that
something like this resource exists in southern New Hampshire; it’s almost like a best-kept secret.”
As for the double-whammy effect, Szok said, “They know us better around the world than they do here. And
visitors can’t believe it’s free or that they can bring their dog with them here when they go for a hike.
“And the sculptures can be touched. This is not a marbled stairway museum where you have to wear your
Sunday best and behave a certain way. It’s far more accessible.
“Even if you don’t like art, nature is great up there, too. And if you like both, then you’re in heaven.”
