I-Park artists in residence program hosts Open House/Open Studio July 14

I-Park is a 450-acre woodland retreat with ponds, hills, streams, stone outcroppings and sheer cliffs. It has wild fields and new growth forest, as well as miles of stonewalls and walking trails. It is bisected by the Eight Mile River and adjoins the Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, CT and other preserved tracts. I-Park aspires to take these natural gifts and create a special space where the important work being done by solitary individuals in their artistic and intellectual pursuits is encouraged and celebrated.

Join us for the 2012 Open House/Open Studios at I-Park  from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 14 at 428 Hopyard Road in East Haddam.

I-Park is a 450-acre woodland retreat with ponds, hills, streams, stone outcroppings and sheer cliffs. It has wild fields and new growth forest, as well as miles of stonewalls and walking trails.

It is bisected by the Eight Mile River and adjoins the Devil’s Hopyard State Park and other preserved tracts.

I-Park aspires to take these natural gifts and create a special space where the important work being done by solitary individuals in their artistic and intellectual pursuits is encouraged and celebrated.

I-Park is itself a long-term creative project in its early concept and development stages. It is evolving slowly and patiently, with an eye to long-term relevance and viability.

I-Park’s annual Open House is traditionally a themed event. Going back to 2005, it has focused on Environmental Art (2007, 2009, 2011), Thanatopolis (2005, 2010), Illuminations (2006) and The Pond (2008).

This year, we’re taking it back to basics – trails.

As with The Pond, the 2012 Open House is going to be a quiet exploration of one of I-Park’s natural strengths: its extensive system of inter-connected trails to nowhere (now over 20 of them!)

Each art trail at I-Park has its own special character: reflective (Arcadian Memory, dj’s), playful (Bhump, Swing), foreboding (Bugernein, Junk), intimate (Civerance, Mie’s), mysterious (Boardwalk, Bridge).

We’ll be christening our new Piano Field Trail – as well as the Barefoot Trail, an ephemeral trail created just for this event.

Take a map, make a plan – or let curiosity be your guide. Embark on a sensory, environmental adventure (or a journey of personal discovery) at your own pace, in your own way.

If it’s hot and/or you’re not up for a walk, in addition to the Open Studios presentations, there will be alternative inside activities in and around the Common Area. Note that this is a rain-or-shine, family friendly event – but no pets, please.

This is a free event but you need to pre-register (click on this link http://www.i-park.org/RSVP.html)   Phone reservations (860-873-2468) also are fine. If you’d like to join us for dinner, please make a separate, additional reservation.

Watch a preview video of our June/July artists Chris Bell, Kathryn Kelley, Lisa Ko, Lilian Beidler, Danielle Julian Norton, Thessia Machado and Jamie Horgan, who will be presenting their work during our enhanced Open Studios from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. (See “related link” at end of story.)

A chili dinner to benefit the I-Park Foundation will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. We have gathered local chefs and I-Park’s own Chef Jacob to prepare a variety of chilis to be served with cornbread, appetizers, dessert, beer and wine. Tickets are only $20; guests age 16 and under eat free – but please make reservations.

Questions? Please call 860-873-2468 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) or send an email to ipark@ureach.com

Posted July 12, 2012 – as edited and added to by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Related link: Video about the 2012 Open House http://vimeo.com/45417710

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