Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
SOLSBERRY – A unique sculpture trail in Greene County has become not only a destination for visitors but also for artists coming for the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and have their artwork displayed in an outdoor museum.
The Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum annually draws artists from all over the United States and beyond to create new works that are “planted” along the trail.
Each summer, the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum hosts about two dozen interns who spend a month casting new works from aluminum and cast iron. On average, eight to 15 new sculptures are completed each summer.
Ariana Berman, program manager of Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum and a former intern, said the museum attracts artists from all over the world.
“We’ve had interns from England, Poland, Kenya and Slovakia come to the workshops,” Berman said. “Interns are usually young and up and coming artists, still in school or just getting out of school.”
Founded in 2002, Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum has grown to display 184 large-scale sculptures. The museum continually reviews work and offers many sculpture workshops and career development opportunities for artists.
“It’s one of those crazy things where the world is big and the world is small,” she said of how the intern program brings international artists together.
Berman said the cast iron workshop for artists will process 30,000 pounds of melting cast iron to create the large sculptures.
“We have a foundry with four furnaces for melting cast iron,” she said.
Berman said it’s incredible to see how a dream from 20 years ago has become a place of shared creativity and education for artists and visitors.
The sculpture trail museum is open year round and admission is free.
Richard Nichols, president of Greene County Tourism, said the museum has been a boon to the county’s tourism in Greene County.
“It’s a fantastic idea that was put into motion by Gerry Masse Jr, who is an incredible artist and human being. The caliber of artists they bring in from all over the world is incredible. Each sculpture has its own story,” said Nichols.
Greene County has long been known for the Tulip Trestle, Yoho’s General Store, the Linton Freedom Festival and Marsh Madness at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife, but it wasn’t known for art before the sculpture trail.
In addition to the trail, the museum’s outreach programs, internships and the popularity of Fire@Nite, a public celebration of the last pour of the season, the sculpture trail is drawing people to Greene County.
“Fire@Nite brings in people from all over the state,” Nichols said. “I just believe that to a degree the outdoor museum has put Greene County on the map for art.”
Because the outdoor museum is located close to Yoho’s General Store and the Tulip Trestle, many visitors will make a day of their trip to visit all three.
Museum Founder and Director Gerry Masse Jr., who grew up on the property, started the museum, in part, because the garage on his parents’ property was running out of space to store his sculptures.
The evolution of the museum – the trail covers three miles – is due to the passionate and giving community of Greene County and the many visiting artists and interns, said Berman.
After seven years working at the museum, Berman said she has loved seeing how much visitors enjoy the museum.
“My hope and the mission of the museum is to educate future artists and also provide free art education to the Greene County area, especially schools,” Berman said. “We strive to make the museum free and accessible for anyone to come and see this amazing artwork in their hometown.”