Across Massachusetts, discover outdoor art installations and even some farm animals

NICOLE: ON THE P OR, IN THE PARK AND FRAMING THE SPLENDID OCEAN VIEWS OF THE CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD, WINDOW SCULPTURES, MEMBERS OF THE NAVY YARD GARDEN ASSOCIATION — WIND SCULPTURES, MEMBERS OF THE NAVY YARD GARDEN ASSOCIATION. >> WE STARTED AS VOLUNTEERS WANTING TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE STARTED WITH A GOAL OF PLANTING. NICOLE: YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THESE OVERSIZED, FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS THE VISIT TO THE HARBOR WALK FOR THREE MONTHS LAST YEAR. THE GROUP’S FIRST DISPLAY SUCH A HIT THEY DECIDED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WOULD FEEL MORE LIKE HOME. >> WE HAVE OUR OWN WINDY MICROCLIMATE. PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO THE HARBOR. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IT IS SOMETHING THAT FITS WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE FOUND THIS ARTIST AND RAISED FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS ART HERE. NICOLE: WIND ON WATER OR WOW. EIGHT GROUPINGS IN 32 SCULPTURES MAKE UP THE INSTALLATION. TIME HE NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER. >> WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN LAST YEAR THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING TO BE DOING DURING THE PANDEMIC? IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH SPACES THAT DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING LOCATED THERE BEFORE TO CREATE PLACE MAKING. PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SIT AND HAVE PICNICS. NICOLE: NO STRINGS ATTACHED, JUST THE ART OF SIMPLICITY. >> WHY ARE THEY HERE? HOW ARE THEY HERE? IT IS FREE TO ENJOY. NICOLE: MOST PIECES ARE MADE OF COPPER, BUT WHEN THE ARTIST DISCOVERED MOST WOULD SIT NEAR THE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL HE DECIDED ON SOMETHING SPECIAL. >> HE PAID ATTENTION TO HEIGHT AND STAINLESS STEEL SO IT SPARKLES. IT IS AT THE END OF THE PIER SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. NICOLE: RELYING ON MOVEMENT TO PROVIDE A CONSTANT CHANGE IN VIEW. ♪ NOW TO A QUESTION WE GATHER YOU HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE. CAN COWS LEARN TO DRAW? [MOOING] THIS IS PART OF THE FIRST OUTDOOR EXHIBITION IN WILLIAMSTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. >> IT IS DRAWING IN SPACE 600 FEET LONG. THE IDEA IS TO LIVE WITH IT AND MOVE AROUND IT. NICOLE: INSTRUCTIONS BROUGHT TO THE PASTURE BY WAY OF THIS STUNNING FENCE. >> IT IS BY ARGENTINE ARTIST. SHE SAW THE SPLIT RAIL FENCE AS TRADITIONAL, AMERICAN VERNACULAR AND STARTED TO PLAY WITH IT AND THOUGHT WHAT IF COWS ARE LOOKING IT, OVER TIME, COULD THEY LEARN SOMETHING? YOU HAVE THREE-POINT PERSPECTIVE. IT IS VERY PLAYFUL. NICOLE: ROB, THE ASSOCIATE CURATOR, SAYS THAT THIS PART OF A NEW EXHIBITION CALLED GROUNDWORK BY SIX ARTISTS WHO ARE USING THE CAMPUS AS CAMPUS. >> THE IDEA WAS TO ACTIVATE THE CAMPUS NIGHT AND DAY IN ALL SEASONS. IT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 24/7. NICOLE: HARPS USE WIND TO MAKE SOUND. >> A LOT OF THE ARTISTS ARE FRAMING THE LANDSCAPE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. [HNO AUDIO] NICOLE: HAVE THE COWS FIGURED OUT HOW TO DRAW? >> WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT ON THAT. [LAUGHTER] ♪ NICOLE: BERKSHIRE COUNTY IS HOME TO THE MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, DRAWING CROWDS TO HIS LOCATION IN NORTH ADAMS. BUT VISITORS OFTEN BYPASS THE DOWNTOWN. >> WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE MUSEUM TO COME DOWNTOWN. NICOLE: WELCOME BIG BLING. >> IT WAS DONE BY THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CONSERVANCY I WAS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE LOSS OF SCULPTURE. WE GOT ON THE PHONE AND I THINK WE CAUGHT IT HOURS BEFORE IT WAS CUT APART. NICOLE: 40 FEET TALL AND NEARLY FOUR STORIES. >> IF HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE AN ELEPHANT, HE MISSED IT BY A BIT. NICOLE: JOSEPH THOMPSON SAYS THE OPINIONS ARE AS WIDE AS THE SCULPTURE. WHAT WE SEE IN ART IS OFTEN INFLUENCED BY OUR OWN STORIES. THE ARTISTS HAVE ONE TO. BIG BLING ACTUALLY SITS ATOP A DARK HISTORY. >> MARKPUYEAR IS ONE OF THE MOST — MARK PURYEAR IS ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED AMERICAN ARTIST. IT HAS AN EDGE. THE SHAPE OF THE BODY REFERENCES SHACKLES USED ON A SLAVE SHIP. THE REFERENCE TO BLING IS BLING CULTURE AND CONSUMERISM IN THIS ASPIRATIONAL, GLITTERY SHACKLE AT THE TOP. NICOLE: ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW SCULPTURE ON DISPLAY PLAYS AN UNASSUMING ROLE IN SOCIETY. >> SCULPTURE HAS A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE POINT OF VIEW. IT SAYS LOOK AT ME, COME TO ME. THAT IS AN ACT OF GREAT HOPE. ♪ SHAYNA: BACK TO WIND ON WATER. THE SCULPTURES WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH MAY 2021 SO THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO CHECK THEM OUT. AS FOR THE GROUNDWORK EXHIBIT AT THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE, MUSEUM EDUCATORS ARE LEADING SOCIALLY DISTANT WALKS TO THE VARIOUS SCULPTURES WITH A PRESENT OUTDOOR LECTURES. THOSE LECTURES WILL BE OFFERED THROUGH OCTOBER. UP NEXT, STOP, ENJOY, AND RELA

Across Massachusetts, discover outdoor art installations and even some farm animals

Nicole Estaphan discovers Big Bling in North Adams, sculptures that move with the wind and fancy fences in central Massachusetts. She also attempts to answer an important question: Can cows learn to draw?

Updated: 6:46 PM EDT Oct 7, 2020

The Navy Yard Garden Association has launched the free public art exhibit WOW: Wind on Water, by nationally recognized metal sculptor Lyman Whitaker, whose work is held in private collections and displayed at public sites across the U.S. and internationally. The sculptures will be on view throughout the seasons until May 2021. The Clark’s first outdoor exhibition Ground/work consists of site-responsive installations by six contemporary artists presented in locations across the pastoral setting of its 140-acre campus.Rising 40 feet high and eliciting many interpretations, Big Bling is Martin Puryear’s largest temporary outdoor sculpture to date.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

The Navy Yard Garden Association has launched the free public art exhibit WOW: Wind on Water, by nationally recognized metal sculptor Lyman Whitaker, whose work is held in private collections and displayed at public sites across the U.S. and internationally. The sculptures will be on view throughout the seasons until May 2021.

The Clark’s first outdoor exhibition Ground/work consists of site-responsive installations by six contemporary artists presented in locations across the pastoral setting of its 140-acre campus.

Rising 40 feet high and eliciting many interpretations, Big Bling is Martin Puryear’s largest temporary outdoor sculpture to date.