Sculpture Fest is an exhibition of outdoor sculpture in Woodstock, Vermont.

Originally the exhibition was held on Peter & Charlet Davenport's land in Woodstock, Vermont as a way to raise funds for the Vermont Council of the Arts while Charlet was on the board of Directors. Sculpture Fest has evolved over the last twelve years. It has become an independent entity, continuing because the artists and the community look forward to the event.

In some instances, it is an opportunity for artists to learn from each other, to network for galley shows and exhibitions and occasionally to sell or begin a commission.

The first section of Sculpture Fest 2002 opened on Saturday, August 3 with an exhbition by two artists who work in steel and metal, Joe Hallowell of Danville, Vermont and Madeleine Lord of Winchester, Massachusetts. The exhibition will run in conjunction with the show of sculpture on loan from previous SF artists and other work pemanently on the land at Prosper Road.

On August 31, the larger exhibition SF 2002 "Inbalance/Imbalance" will open at a new location, Line Farm on Cloudland Road in Woodstock. Sculpture Fest 2002 "Inbalance/Imbalance" takes Woodstock's annual outdoor sculpture event into new dimensions. Laura McDill's generous offer to host this upcoming exhibition on the land at her home, Line Farm, presents an opportunity for artists to create work in a new location. The fields, pond, meditation walk, woods and old stone walls of Line Farm will inspire both artists and visitors to SF 2002.

Laura McDill is a native of Woodstock and a land steward. Her artistic spirit and true sense of place make her a natural steward and host for the Fall Sculpture Fest exhbition. Peter and I will work with Laura to help make this event as fullfilling for her as it is for us. Meanwhile, we will continue to welcome visitors to view work on the land here on Prosper Road and after August 3rd the work of featured artists Joe Hallowell and Madeleine Lord.

-Peter and Charlet Davenport (founders of Sculpture Fest )
Curator Charlet Davenport

INTRODUCTION TO SCULPTUREFEST 2002 BY LAURA MCDILL

I grew up on this land that has been in my family for over 100 years. I moved away to raise my own family, operate a dairy farm and pursue a career in investments. Now retired, I am engaged in environmental projects, silviculture in Vermont and bayscaping in Maine, my primary residence. I farm and manage the property, clearing land that was planted to larch trees 65 years ago to create the upper pasture; and harvesting red pine to plant a buffer of birch, beech, balsam and spruce along the town road. The field now yields three cuttings of prime hay every summer, the pastures are relatively free of invasive plants. I continue to uncover stone walls, remove obstructions from the brooks, create paths and restore the pond. During Sculpturefest 2002, it is gives me great joy to open Line Farm to sculptors who bring art to this treasured place for visitors to enjoy. Welcome!

photos, top to bottom: Joe Hallowell sculpture, "Rooster" (steel) installed at Sculpturefest, Prosper Road. August, 2002; Madeleine Lord's "Umbrella People" at the Prosper Road site, August 2002; Welcoming sculpture at Line Farm, by Laura McDill, 2002..
All photos on this page ©2002: Dennis Grady / invisibleimage.

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