(Harvard, Mass.) Fruitlands opens its 102nd Season on Friday, April 15 with two new exhibitions in the Art Museum–The 2016 Student Art Competition and The Natural World in High Relief: Carvings by William Schnute–on view from April 15 to June 19. Both exhibitions celebrate the art, nature and history of Fruitlands, and the creativity of local New England artists. A free opening reception will be held on Friday, April 15, 6-8pm.  

Fruitlands Director Wyona Lynch-McWhite commented, “We are thrilled to open our 2016 main season, and to welcome everyone back to Fruitlands this April with two wonderful exhibitions! We are privileged to display the amazing wood sculptures of master carver William Schnute, an artist and craftsman at the top of his field. And, seeing the work of our student artists in the Art Museum is an exhilarating experience–both for them and us.”

The 2016 Student Art Competition features paintings, drawings, photography and sculpture created by Middle and High School students from across the region. Fifty-three students from thirteen different schools have created more than 60 works of art that represent the art, nature and history of Fruitlands.  2016 Artist-in-Residence Carolyn Wirth will judge the competition. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top artists in both the middle and high school categories. A full list of students and their towns will be posted on Fruitlands.org.

Master carver William Schnute’s detailed high-relief woodcarvings will be featured in The Natural World in High Relief. Schnute’s sculptures are characterized by a remarkable three-dimensional depth that captures plants and animals in realistic forms and dynamic scenes. Sometimes taking months to carve, these elaborate naturalistic scenes cover large wooden doors and architectural panels. Schnute’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, and he has created site-specific pieces for private residences, corporate structures and churches nationwide.

Born in 1942 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Schnute was raised in Chicago. A self-taught carver, he began sculpting at the age of seven.  Even though he received a B.S. degree in General Science and began a career in cell biology research, his passion for wood sculpting developed into a full time profession with his founding of Oak Leaves Studio in 1974. He is the author of the book, High-Relief Wood Carving, published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York. His home and studio are in Wilton, New Hampshire.

FRUITLANDS 2016 SEASON OPENING EVENTS

Friday, April 15, 10AM-4PM

Fruitlands 102nd Main Season opens!

All museum buildings will be open and visitors are invited to enjoy early spring on the walking trails and enjoy lunch in the Museum Café.

Friday, April 15, 6-8PM

Opening Reception in the Fruitlands Art Museum

Please join us in the Art Museum for the opening of the 2016 Student Art Competition and The Natural World in High Relief: Carvings by William Schnute. We'll hear from the artists and have light refreshments.

Friday, April 15 – Sunday, June 19

Spring 2016 Exhibitions in the Fruitlands Art Museum:

2016 Student Art Competition

William Schnute: The Natural World in High Relief

The 2016 Student Art Competition features 60+ drawings, paintings, photographs and sculpture created by more than 50 Massachusetts Middle and High School students. Master sculptor William Schnute’s amazing high-relief woodcarvings pay homage to the natural world.

Sunday, April 17, 10AM – 3PM

ART WORKSHOP: Hand Sewn Journals with Cristina Hajosy

$100 Members, $125 Nonmembers

This all-day workshop takes the bookmaking process from start to finish. Hand stitching is a technique for sewing the sections, or “signatures,” of a book together. This workshop will cover four different stitch patterns on both soft and hard covers. The pamphlet, long stitch, the chain stitch with beads, and the “Dos Equis” will be completed. Unique decorative papers will be used in book components, enabling you to add your own personal touches to your finished pieces. All supplies provided, no experience needed. Space is limited. To register, contact programming@fruitlands.org or call (978) 456-3924, ext. 239.

Fruitlands Museum is open Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m., weekends and holidays 10AM — 5PM, April 15 – November 6, 2016. Admission is $14 adults, $12 seniors and students, $6 for children 5 – 13, and free for members and children under 5. Fruitlands Museum is located at 102 Prospect Hill Road in Harvard, Mass. For more information please visit www.fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924 ext. 292.

ABOUT FRUITLANDS MUSEUM

Fruitlands Museum, a 210-acre historic, natural, and cultural destination based in Harvard, MA, recently announced plans to integrate operations with The Trustees of Reservations. Founded in 1914 by author and preservationist Clara Endicott Sears, the complex takes its name from an experimental utopian community led by Transcendentalists Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane that existed on this site in 1843. Dedicated to New England history & art, Fruitlands’ properties include: The Fruitlands Farmhouse, once home to the family of Louisa May Alcott and a National Historic landmark; The Shaker Museum, home to the largest archive of Harvard Shaker documents in the world; The Native American Museum, which houses a significant collection of artifacts that honor the spiritual presence and cultural history of the first Americans; The Art Museum, featuring a renowned collection of Hudson River School landscape paintings and 19th century vernacular portraits, along with rotating special exhibitions; and The Land, which features panoramic views of the Nashua River Valley, including 2.5 miles of meadows and woodland recreational trails. The Fruitlands Museum Store sells fine crafts by local artists, including pottery, glass, jewelry, clothing and home furnishings. The Museum Café, open during the main season focuses on locally sourced, sustainable cuisine reflective of the heritage of New England. A fabulous line-up of exhibitions, programs, classes and events designed to get you away from the screen and reconnecting with the land and other people are being planned for the 2016 Main Season. For more information, visit www.fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924 ext. 292.

Fruitlands Museum, Discover Art, Nature & History