aWays to Fathom began as an embodied experiment to wrap our minds around the enormity of the collective grief in the air in the wake of Covid-19. By repeating a gesture of remembrance (sewing a single sequin for each Covid death) we hope to humanize the overwhelming data and to grasp the ongoing impact of our collective loss.
Over the course of the next year, aWays to Fathom will grow to reflect the 21,482 Covid deaths in New England in 2020 and be presented as part of Abridged, an evening length work Monkeyhouse is developing. Inspired by the Dictionary of Negative Space, Abridged looks at our lack of language for death, dying, and loss.
aWays to Fathom is funded by Monkeyhouse’s Covid Collaborations.
Over the course of the next year, aWays to Fathom will grow to reflect the 21,482 Covid deaths in New England in 2020 and be presented as part of Abridged, an evening length work Monkeyhouse is developing. Inspired by the Dictionary of Negative Space, Abridged looks at our lack of language for death, dying, and loss.
aWays to Fathom is funded by Monkeyhouse’s Covid Collaborations.
aWays to Fathom:
Worcester County Edition
aWays to Fathom: Worcester County Edition is the second iteration of the aWays to Fathom project to be presented, showing the 1523 Covid deaths in Worcester County in 2020. It will be installed at the Beals Preserve in Southborough, MA from June 13th - September 26th, 2021.
Photo by Nicole Harris
Umbrellas are a recurring motif in our collaborations together. We sit under and carry umbrellas to protect us from sun and rain, but in the coming months and years we will not be able to shelter from the losses we carry out of 2020. Grief is no longer something we can or should only hold internally. It is, quite literally, in the air around us and none of us is going through it alone.
We are curious about ways to choreograph opportunities for empathy and connection. As such, we invite you to relax for a few minutes in the presence of the sculpture, take a deep sigh of acknowledgement and observe the patterns of color the sequins radiate about the landscape.
We are curious about ways to choreograph opportunities for empathy and connection. As such, we invite you to relax for a few minutes in the presence of the sculpture, take a deep sigh of acknowledgement and observe the patterns of color the sequins radiate about the landscape.
- How do they affirm the beauty of those lives in the wake of this tremendous loss?
- How many people do you know who are mourning?
- How can we gently interact with this fragile landscape of fresh grief?
All installation day photos by Nicole Harris. Thanks to everyone who helped make the magic happen!
Russell Holman in a tree
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Kim Holman, Jeremy Wechsler, karen Krolak, and Russell Holman
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Luna
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Russell Holman
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Art on the Trails
aWays to Fathom: Worcester County Edition is one of nineteen pieces installed at Beals Preserve in Southborough, MA. You can find the list of other artists here.
According to their website, “Art on the Trails is a annual juried outdoor art exhibition and poetry program founded and directed by Catherine Weber, and hosted by the Southborough Open Land Foundation in Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve in Southborough, Massachusetts.” Learn more about Art on the Trails here.
According to their website, “Art on the Trails is a annual juried outdoor art exhibition and poetry program founded and directed by Catherine Weber, and hosted by the Southborough Open Land Foundation in Elaine and Philip Beals Preserve in Southborough, Massachusetts.” Learn more about Art on the Trails here.
Directions
The simplest access to aWays to Fathom: Worcester County Edition is by the Red Gate Lane entrance. There is room to park a handful of cars at the trailhead. You can use 22 Red Gate Lane in your GPS but please don’t park in anyone’s driveway!
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Once in the park it’s a short walk down the path to the piece.
While you’re there, keep walking a bit to see Pane #3262.1 A-G! It’s part of karen’s Panes series, which premiered at NACHMO Boston and the Malden Dance Mile this year! From parking to Pane #3262.1 A-G and back again is about 3/4 of a mile in total. |
Accessibility
aWays to Fathom: Worcester County Edition is located on a trail in Beals Preserve. Most of the path from the Red Gate trailhead is wide and relatively even, but it is still a dirt path with occasional tree roots. The site is likely accessible to many people using mobility devices or strollers, but perhaps not all. In the coming days we will add more information about accessibility options, including photos and videos of the site so visitors can come prepared.
This site is 100% dog friendly!
This site is 100% dog friendly!
Things to think about before arriving:
- Visiting the site involves a small amount of walking. The trail is full of art so come prepared to spend a little time admiring and adventuring!
- There are bugs of the itchy bitey kind. You may want bug spray!
- There is poison ivy along (but not on) the trail. Most people should be fine but our more than human friends may want to stay on the trail.
- There are no bathrooms at or near the site. Sorry!
Special Thanks
- Art on the Trails
- Catherine Weber
- Miner Nagy Family Gift Fund
- Russell Holman
- Kim Holman, Jeremey Wechsler, and Luna
- Kwaq, N8d-el, and Lucy
