Chesterwood announces 44th annual contemporary sculpture show
Berkshire artist Jonathan Prince brings “Elemental Matters” to the historic landscape at Chesterwood
STOCKBRIDGE, MA - Chesterwood, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announces the opening its 44th annual contemporary outdoor sculpture show on July 1. Elemental Matters: The Sculpture of Jonathan Prince will feature 12 large scale works sited throughout the landscape at Chesterwood. A free artist’s reception will be held on Friday, July 29th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The exhibition will be on view until October 24, Thursdays - Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entry to Chesterwood is by ticket only. Either Grounds-Only or Guided Buildings Tour tickets can be reserved online or upon arrival. Special tours of Elemental Matters: The Sculpture of Jonathan Prince will be announced in July on www.chesterwood.org.
Chesterwood’s Guest Curator, Cassandra Sohn, Director of Sohn Fine Art, was drawn to the way Prince’s metal works are often mistaken for wood, stone or liquid. “Though monumental in structure, rooted in geometry and made of metal, Prince’s sculpture’s possess an innate vulnerability. They are a meditation both in process and concept.” states Sohn, “The cracks and breaks remind us of the fragility in nature and humanity.” Prince, based in Southfield, MA, is known for pushing the boundaries of how materials can behave, as well as pushing the limits of what the human hand can accomplish. The artist’s monumental sculptures fabricated from steel and stone explore the human connection between our inner and outer selves. Holding a doctorate from Columbia University and founding several technology companies, Prince’s artworks are uniquely influenced by his background in science, technology, and medicine. The heart of his sculptures strive to show the beauty that can exist in the breaks and emerge from chaos.
Elemental Matters will also feature the launch of one artwork specifically designed for the metaverse, a digital simulation viewable to visitors through mobile augmented reality (AR). Designed with his team at Berkshire House, a creative hub founded by Prince in 2020, the sculpture named IOTA, embodies much of the characteristics recognizable to Prince’s physical sculpture, but will be an entirely virtual experience.
Chesterwood’s Executive Director, Donna Hassler, believes Prince’s work will take on whole other dimensions “considered against the ever changing sky and forest backdrop.” Hassler stated, “I am delighted that Jonathan’s work will activate the landscape. While living and working at Chesterwood, Daniel Chester French designed the landscape to create both ‘intimate’ outdoor rooms and large, open views of the Berkshire Hills - it has been a natural showcase for featuring the work of contemporary artists since 1978.”
All of Jonathan Prince’s sculpture is for sale, with a portion donated directly to Chesterwood to advance its mission to support contemporary artists.
About Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood
Chesterwood is notably one of the earliest venues in the United States to showcase large-scale works in an outdoor setting. Since 1978, Chesterwood has exhibited sculpture by more than 600 emerging and established artists, including Leonard Baskin, Morgan Bulkeley, Herbert Ferber, Glenda Goodacre, Sol Le Witt, Albert Paley, George Rickey, and Richard Stankiewicz. Prominent art curators, historians, and gallery directors, have traditionally been appointed to organize and curate the outdoor sculpture show in collaboration with Chesterwood staff. Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood is supported by the Lillian Heller Sculpture Endowment.