Day, the Twenty Second

Art Gave Lifeless Life

Today, art.

Little Bean approaches Norbert Jager’s mysterious sculpture, “Human Boulder,” without hesitation. For most of the day, as we wandered through the amazing Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, she’d been tentative about the art itself. The trail, the pretty woods, the dirt and rocks and moss, all fine. But she seemed to be trying to find a way to enter into the atmosphere created by the random sculptures all across the 140 acre park.

This place has been on our must hike bucket list for a long time, and the unusual warm weather and clear schedule, gave the whole family and chance to spend an afternoon exploring.

Jeger’s “Human Boulder” resonated with her. The piece, designed and installed by the German-born artist in 2014 shows what appears to be two people holding a boulder. One person is taller than the other, so man and woman or parent and child? They aren’t struggling but the boulder extends straight through their bodies. The burden of the boulder extends to both of them. The weight of life? Of their relationship? Where are they carrying it?

But to Little Bean, she’s attracted, as always, to the logistics and aesthetics of such a work of art.

“Is that a real rock,” she asks. “How is it staying up there?” She doesn’t want to go under it, but she’s not afraid to touch it. She reaches out both hands and presses against the rock, like she’s helping the metal duo carry the thing.

The park prides itself on sensory availability. Most of the pieces are metal or stone so touching is allowed, which makes it all unique. There are over 80 pieces scattered through the trails and with only an afternoon at our disposal, we barely scratch the surface. But it’s enough to make her want to come back.

The ancient Roman Seneca is credited as saying “All art is an imitation of nature.” I’m game for that idea. What’s nice about Andres is that the park flips the standard messaging of big outdoor sculptures. Instead of a big peice separated from nature, in Andres nature IS the point. The art is just an addition. Nature is the couch. Art is the throw pillows.

Little Ben suggests that she could build an art peice here, something about twigs and stones and mud, and again, I’m game. There are small stone cairns and strange little leaf constructs all around if you just look close enough.

Go into nature. Find art. Make nature art. Perfect.