Ringtower, Joe Chirchirillo
For Immediate Release: June 7, 2021
Contact:
Joe Chirchirillo, jrc373@comcast.net or Jamie Franklin, jfranklin@benningtonmuseum.org
24th Annual North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show
NBOSS 2021
Now in its 24th year, the North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show (NBOSS) is the longest running outdoor sculpture exhibition in Southern Vermont. From June 19th to November 7th, large-scale outdoor works will be featured throughout the historic village of North Bennington, at the Hiland Hall Gardens, and on the 10-acre campus of Bennington Museum in Old Bennington. This exhibition is a must-see addition to the regional art trail that connects Southern Vermont cultural destinations such as Bennington Museum, Bennington College and the Southern Vermont Arts Center with MassMoca, The Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art, Art Omi, Chesterwood, and The Mount.
 
For the 9th year in a row, local artist Joe Chirchirillo will curate this premier cultural event, and for the 2nd consecutive year, he will be joined by Jamie Franklin at Bennington Museum. For the summer and fall of 2021, the team has brought together over 50 internationally recognized and emerging artists from the surrounding area with their works split between the two locations: 45 pieces in North Bennington (including 4 pieces at the Hiland Hall Gardens), and 26 pieces at Bennington Museum. These creations can be enjoyed at no cost and at the viewer’s convenience. Sculptures are available for purchase, and maps are available on-site.
Artists are listed below:
Mary Admasian
Amy Anselmo
Peter Barrett
Irene Berkson
Mike Biddy
Bill Botzow
David Boyajian
Jo Ann Brody
Fred Brownstein
Susan Calza
David Channon
Joe Chirchirillo
Jose Criollo
Charlet Davenport Alisa Del Tufo Jonathan Dow
Chris Duncan
EveNSteve
Stephan Fowlkes Gints Grinbergs
Jesse Goode
Mike Hansel
Em Hexe
Rob Hitzig
Gary Humphreys
Brian Johnston
Cecilia Judge
Bob Keating
Justin Kenny
Harlan Mack
Eric Olson
James Payne Michelle Post
Phil Marshall
Jay Mead
Pat Musick
James Payne Matthew Perry
A. Hamilton Reiss
Erika Senft-Miller David Skora
Gregory Smith
Lynn Sullivan
Mike Thron
Phil Thorne
Michael Tillyer Patrick Todd Jackson Tupper
Bob Turan
Zac Ward
Lee Williams
Max Yawney
A public opening celebration will take place on Saturday June 19th from 4pm to 8pm in the Village of North Bennington, centered at the Vermont Arts Exchange (next to the North Bennington Post Office). The Saints and Liars band will perform their special blend of folk, bluegrass, and punk for this event, which is free of charge and open to the public. Masks are encouraged.
 
The exhibition and opening event are sponsored by the Fund for North Bennington, Paran Recreations, Bennington Museum, Bennington College, Marigold Kitchen, Pangea Restaurant, Art Whitman, GVH Studio, Stuart Aldrich, and the Vermont Arts Exchange.
Quotes:
 
“I often say that the North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture show is one of my favorite cultural summer events in Vermont. What I love about it is as much as the incredible sculptures and artists that are brought to town is the sense of community. It’s the idea of community coming together and enjoying each other, eating hot dogs on the grill, walking around enjoying art....it’s the human interactions as much as the art.

Even though the opening is a local event, people from other places would want to come and take part in it because there is such a sense of community, but that community isn’t defined by geographic boundaries. It’s just you, being there and taking part in it. I would say that anybody who enjoys the arts would be willing to make the trip here and also see a multitude of other sculpture and art venues, all within a one-hour radius.”
- Jamie Franklin, Curator at The Bennington Museum
 
"This show began as an opportunity for Bennington College students to experiment with ideas and get them in front of people. Although the show has changed over the years, I try to honor the ideas that the show began with. This show is an overview of outdoor sculpture including many types and styles of work. It's also a show where a well-seasoned professional artist could be showing next to a person just starting out."
- Joe Chirchirillo, Sculptor and Curator for NBOSS
 
“This is my third time to show in NBOSS. I am amazed at the energy and the wonderful setting for NBOSS and especially for Joe's generous way of working...and great organizing.
What I find most wonderful is that public space is being used for this event and works well within the community. It is a large undertaking and adds a very good reason (along with many other reasons) to make sure to get to Bennington during Summer and early Fall season.”   
                        -Charlet Davenport, participating sculptor from Woodstock VT
 
“I look forward to the North Bennington Sculpture show every year! It is a wonderful exhibition and a sublime example of how art connects and creates community .”
 - Sandra Magsamen North Bennington Resident and attendee 
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