Sculpture at the Mount

"Two Together" by Joy Brown 

Edith Wharton is best known as a novelist, with several of her works having been made into movies. Think "The Age of Innocence" and "Ethan Fromme." But her talents extended well beyond the page. Wharton was largely responsible for the design of the home in which she and her husband lived in Lenox, Massachusetts. They called their estate "The Mount." One might think the name came from the house's location on a hilltop in the Berkshires. Instead, the moniker was an homage to the home of her great-grandfather in Bordentown, New Jersey that bore the same name.  

During the summer months, the grounds of the Mount are home to a sculpture exhibit. It was great fun to walk the beautiful property and discover the works along the way. Case in point: "Two Together" by Joy Brown. You would have to be a real grouch not to smile when you come upon these characters. 

People sometimes refer to Brown's creations as "humanoid." She pushes back against this description, which she thinks makes her figures sound like empty shells. To Brown, her creations convey a great deal of personality. I wholeheartedly agree. And while this comparison does her work a disservice, I just realized that they remind me a bit of the Pillsbury Doughboy. He always makes me smile, as did Brown's sculptures. To see her work when the streets of New York were home to an exhibit, click here. And for more on Brown, click here.  

"Flight" by Elizabeth Schoonmaker

You're a better (or at least more serious) person than I if you could resist running towards this giant bird. Sadly, the picture of Jayne and me nestled up under the belly of "Flight" was out of focus, so you'll just have to imagine that image. I am still smiling. 

When we got up close to "Flight," its texture reminded me of a Brillo pad. That actually wasn't too far off. The work is made primarily of knitted stainless steel mesh, with some bed springs and rebar thrown in for good measure. Artists are so creative. 

It makes sense to me that artist Elizabeth Schoonmaker's primary occupation is as an author of children's books. Her best known character is Eula, the Square Cat, whose blog you can see by clicking here. (Yes, Eula has her own blog.) If only I had grandchildren. To see more of Schoonmaker's art, click here. I was a bit surprised to discover that her paintings are floral works with none of the whimsy of this sculpture, which I highly prefer. 

"Finding Center" by David Adilman

I'll leave you with "Finding Center" by David Adilman. It made me want to go directly to a yoga studio. Better yet would have been a class on the grounds of the Mount. 

The theme of the entire exhibit is "Flourish," and Adilman built the concept into his statement about the work, which reads, "This posture requires internal core strength and mental clarity to find your center and feel grounded. This type of practice helps an individual flourish despite life's ups and downs." I like it. 

Adilman was a geologist by trade, so it makes sense that he worked in stone. He began with limestone then moved on to marble then granite, the medium from which "Finding Center" was made. In his artist statement, Adilman said, "The most fun is when you pull a body part or form you are seeking out of the stone. It's a perfect mix of courageous action, physical exertion, intense observation and focused contemplation." How gratifying that must have been. For more on Adilman and his work, click here.

The Mount

For a deeper dive into the Sculpture at the Mount exhibit, click here. I look forward to returning to the Mount and touring the home. In addition to her fiction, Wharton co-wrote the book "The Decoration of Houses" with Ogden Cogman, Jr. The style for which the duo advocated apparently rejected the flashiness of the ostentation associated with the Gilded Age. Out with Victorian clutter (the mere thought of which makes me feel a bit confined) and in with strong lines, balance and symmetry. Still, the house itself looks pretty grand. 

For more on the Mount and the programs held there, click here. Don't miss this beautiful property if you find yourself in the Berkshires.