June 16, 2025
CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS OPENING LECTURE
AND WALKING TOUR ON GROUND/WORK 2025
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, July 19 at 11 am, the Clark Art Institute celebrates the opening of its newest sculpture exhibition, Ground/work 2025, with a lecture by exhibition curator Glenn Adamson exploring the theme of craft and its different cultural expressions. The talk also features recent photography highlighting the unique round-the-clock experience of appreciating the works of art across the Clark's grounds, and a question-and-answer session. This free event takes place in the Clark’s Manton Research Center auditorium.
At 2 pm, the Clark presents a free walking tour of the outdoor sculpture exhibition. Each artist will be stationed beside their work to present a ten- to fifteen-minute talk with Adamson. There is a fifteen-minute window (with two exceptions) between each talk, providing time to walk between sites.
The walking tour schedule is:
2:00 pm: Introduction at the Senosiain sculpture (Schow Pond)
2:05–2:20 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Javier Senosiain
2:35–2:50 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Aboubakar Fofana
3:05–3:20 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Laura Ellen Bacon
3:35–3:50 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Milena Naef
4:00–4:15 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Hugh Hayden
4:20–4:35 pm: Artist conversation between the curator and Yō Akiyama
4:35–4:45 pm: Closing remarks
Please note: tour attendees must be able to walk our trails, which cover varied terrain. Due to limited cart availability, the Clark is not able to make special accessibility accommodations for this event. However, if you are unable to participate in the walking tour, we encourage you to watch the video tour of Ground/work 2025, which will be made available this summer.
Free. Meet at Schow Pond. In the case of inclement weather, the artists will offer a panel discussion with exhibition curator Glenn Adamson in the Manton Research Center auditorium. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
Ground/work 2025 is a year-long exhibition of monumental sculpture featuring specially commissioned works located across the Clark’s campus. Through the work of six international artists, the exhibition explores global conceptions of craft, defined as the physical process by which artists transform the world around them. Each of the participating artists exemplifies how artisanal traditions can be reinvented to generate contemporary form and meaning. The Ground/work 2025 artists are: Yō Akiyama (Japan), Laura Ellen Bacon (United Kingdom), Aboubakar Fofana (Mali), Hugh Hayden (United States), Milena Naef (Switzerland), and Javier Senosiain (Mexico).
Ground/work 2025 is organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by independent scholar Glenn Adamson.
Ground/work 2025 is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel. Major funding is provided by the Edward and Maureen Fennessy Bousa Fund for Contemporary Projects, Karen and Robert Scott, and VIA Art Fund, with additional support from Thomas and Lily Beischer, Girlfriend Fund, and Agnes Gund.
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday from September through June and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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