Champlain Area Trails Partners with Local Artist for Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  

September 6, 2024

  

Contact: Amber Adamson, 518-962-2287, Amber@champlainareatrails.com

Attached: Picture of a SkyBeam Sculpture at Champlain Area Trails Essex Quarry Nature Preserve in Essex, NY

  

Champlain Area Trails Partners with Local Artist for Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit

  

ESSEX, NY—On Saturday, September 14, Champlain Area Trails (CATS) will unveil the SkyBeam Sculptures, an art installation by artist Mac MacDevitt, at the Essex Quarry Nature Preserve. The public is invited to experience this unique exhibit and learn about the inspiration behind the sculptures at a presentation by the artist at 2:30 p.m. The sculptures will remain at the nature preserve until the end of October.

  

“We are thrilled to provide a home for Mac’s visionary sculptures at our Essex Quarry Nature Preserve,” said Chris Maron, Executive Director at CATS. “The SkyBeam Sculptures beautifully complement our mission of connecting people with nature. We hope this installation inspires visitors to appreciate the natural world around them in new ways.”

  

Established in 2009, CATS is an accredited land trust that creates and maintains recreational trails, protects land, connects people with nature, and promotes economic vitality in New York’s Champlain Valley. CATS has created and maintains over 98 miles of trails, protected 992 acres of land, and hosted hundreds of hikes, outdoor education outings, and volunteer events, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

  

The SkyBeam Sculptures were initially designed for a prototype series of SkyHigh Shelters, which were featured at the 2013 Champlain Makers Faire.  

  

"The sculptures are crafted from narrow, gently curved laminated cedar beams, providing viewers with a lens to observe the natural world around them more keenly. Positioned amongst an organic tapestry of rocks, trees, and undergrowth, these clearly defined forms contrast with their wild surroundings," explains Mac, the artist. "Encountering these sculptures on the trails sparks curiosity and surprise, inviting onlookers to imbue them with personal significance. For those who traverse these paths regularly, I envision the sculptures growing into familiar presences, akin to old friends awaited on the journey.”

  

The exhibit will open on Saturday, September 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., and the artist will give a presentation at 2:30 p.m. It will be held at the Essex Quarry Nature Preserve at 2215 Lake Shore Rd, Essex, New York. Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to park in the Essex neighborhoods and walk through town to reserve the parking lot for those with mobility needs. For more information, please visit www.champlainareatrails.com.

  

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About Champlain Area Trails: Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is an accredited land trust founded in 2009 to create and maintain recreational trails, protect land, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality in the Champlain Valley. CATS has created and maintains over 98 miles of trails, protected 992 acres of land, and hosted hundreds of hikes, outdoor education outings, and volunteer events, attracting thousands of visitors annually.