TRAILS AND SCULPTURES AT THE MOUNT DRAW PEOPLE OF ALL AGES— AND EVEN OUR FURRY FRIENDS— AS THE OUTDOOR EXHIBITION CONTINUES THROUGH OCTOBER 19
B y A n a s t a s i a S t a n m e y e r
OUTDoOR EXPLORATION
A walk on any of the trails at The Mount in Lenox leads to the discovery of sculptures in harmony with nature.( Courtesy of The Mount)
TRAILS AND SCULPTURES AT THE MOUNT DRAW PEOPLE OF ALL AGES— AND EVEN OUR FURRY FRIENDS— AS THE OUTDOOR EXHIBITION CONTINUES THROUGH OCTOBER 19
Sculpture at The Mount features 25 works of contemporary outdoor sculpture placed throughout the lush woods, gardens, and grounds. This year’ s theme is“ Movement,” and artists’ interpretations include personal transformation, cultural shifts, the cycles of nature, and more.
The outdoor exhibition is expected to take on a slightly different appearance as the light shifts into the fall season, enhancing the otherworldly appearance of certain sculptures. Kathy Ruttenberg ' s deer man and tree lady sculpture may look even more magical with the setting sun. Sergei Isupov ' s ceramic animals will be even more camouflaged as the leaves change colors. From sunrise to sunset, the grounds at The Mount are open, without charge. Explore the natural surroundings on your own or with a friend, go on an artist-led walk, or download audio guides in English and Spanish.“ We get a lot of people walking their dogs,” says Jacqueline Christensen, assistant director of programs at The Mount who is coordinating the outdoor sculpture exhibitions.“ We made a sculpture scavenger hunt for kids this year that leads them on the trails, as well. We also have a few Mount programs that encourage exploration of the trails on the property.” Some specific activities happening on the grounds of The Mount include Fall Birding with Mass Audubon at 8 a. m. on September 17 and 24; a Housatonic Heritage Walk at 3 p. m. on September 21; and an artist-led tour of the outdoor sculptures at 2 p. m. on October 5. Sculptures also are found on many of The Mount’ s trails, as well as along the driveway and behind the Italian walled garden. You may very well come across Helen Duncan ' s Disperse sculpture, which is described as a site-responsive art installation inspired by native flora. The installation interacts with the natural environment, swaying with the breeze. And make your way to the Woodland
Trail, which has been manicured and extended deeper into the woods, featuring sculptures by artists who have never exhibited at The Mount like Isupov, Patrick Goguen, Janice Corkin Rudolf, and Michael Perusse. The trail also includes pieces by return artists like Ruttenberg and Donna Bernstein.“ This trail was invented after Edith Wharton ' s time living here; we do believe that the trail runs near where Wharton once had her wildflower garden,” says Christensen.“ There is also a wide variety of trees on the trail and throughout the estate— some young, and some over 100 years old.“ That part of the property demonstrates a beautiful balance between constancy and change, which parallels with the nature of this exhibition ' s evolution. While the wildflowers have now shifted to a newly planted
Fall 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 91