A public art installation of painted doors on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.

May 1, 2020 – September 5, 2020

Mission: “Go Out Doors” inspires discovery and exploration of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, and the intersection/action of place, community, spirit, and nature.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” ― John Muir

What happens if you open the door and step outside? What happens if the opportunity to engage presents itself? What might we discover if, on foot or wheel, we find ourselves on a path through the woods – hidden from the roads we travel daily? What happens if we leave our electronics behind and find that steps from the front door a sensory world awaits? What happens if we walk and bike daily to and from school and work? Or just for fun? What might we feel? What might change?

The West Concord section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail opened in September, 2019, running from Route 2, through the Village, and down to Powder Mill Road. This section of the trail is remarkably quiet and remote-feeling, although never far from Old Marlborough Road. The trail, a new route to celebrate, is beginning to see more and more use, but mostly by people who already exercise and walk their dogs, and who are delighted to find a more peaceful place to stroll.

How can we, as artists, draw more people outside to the pathway? Inspired by the En Plein Air door installation on NYC’s High Line, we invite you to submit a proposal to paint a door for a temporary 2020 summer art installation along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. We seek images that depict nature, or an activity (solo or with friends) on a recreational trail, or interacting with nature (or fellow recreators) while out on the trail. We seek inspiration, whimsy, irony, reflection, connection, curiosity, spirituality, and/or
joy.

Specs:
– Standard Doors (roughly 30” x 80”) will be provided. Note: most doors will have a paneled surface.
– Doors must be submitted ready to install – weather proofed as needed to last the duration of the exhibit.
– Small stipend awarded to chosen exhibitors.
– Doors will be installed in groups of 3-4, just off the trail in areas where there is space for people to pause and enjoy the art.
– Installation assistance appreciated! Installation materials provided and include: 4 steel braces (two on each bottom edge), which affix to two parallel, weatherized 2’ x 8’ pieces of wood, which are in turn anchored in the ground with iron stakes.

Proposal Instructions:
Submit via email by March 4, 2020 to Nancy Lippe [email protected] a letter explaining concepts, a brief bio/resume, links to websites/exhibitions and/or images of previous work, and up to 3 proposed images, as detailed as possible to get across the concept(s).

This project is made possible by support from the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the Foundation for MetroWest.