Maine's Capital Area

Have you put a visit to the 2015 Viles Arboretum Sculpture Symposium in Augusta on your fall calendar yet? The Symposium in 2014 attracted over 5,000 public visitors and 250 students and they anticipate even greater attendance this year. Thirteen nationally known artists will come together on the grounds of the Arboretum, create stone sculptures, teach, interact with students and public and offer an unparalleled opportunity to learn about art, artists, inspiration and technique.

The Symposium dates are September 26th through October 4^th with a Closing Reception & Student Art Presentation on October 3^rd from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. The public are welcome to visit any day during these dates between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM.

It should prove to be an exciting week as raw stone evolves into shapes and ultimately finished pieces for final presentation at the Closing Reception.  Weekdays are the focus of Maine student participation with at least one school present each day engaging the artists, holding discussions with them and finally working with the Symposium’s resident art teacher, Anne Alexander, who will be instructing each group of students in the creation of a soft stone art piece.

While you are there be sure to take in the two hundred and twenty-four acres of fields, wetlands and forest, six miles of hiking trails, Maine’s second longest wetland boardwalk, botanical collections from around the world, and the largest publicly-accessible outdoor sculpture exhibit in Maine! That’s worth the trip right there!

We hope to see you there!