As Maryland’s cultural capital, you’ll find diverse expressions of art everywhere you turn in Montgomery County. Local organizations and artists have developed outdoor exhibits that are sure to inspire your creative side. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed art aficionado or just searching for the perfect selfie spot, get outside and soak up the arts at these outdoor exhibits.
Explore the Integration of Art, Architecture and Nature at Glenstone Museum
Glenstone is the perfect place to visit for a day of art exploration. With nearly 300 acres of landscape filled with sculptures, architecture and multi-media exhibits, you’ll find yourself leaving with nothing but endless inspiration. Glenstone is operating at a limited capacity. Thursday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. Maximum group size is 5. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Guests must be 12 and older.
Glenstone Highlights:
Horse and rider, 2014
solid stainless steel
Artist: Charles Ray, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
Split-Rocker, 2000
stainless steel, soil, geotextile fabric, internal irrigation system, and live flowering plants
Artist: Jeff Koons Courtesy: Glenstone Museum
FOREST (for a thousand years…), 2012
audio installation: 22 loud speakers mounted in a forest setting, amplifiers, playback computer
Duration: 28-minute loop
Artists: Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, courtesy of the artists and Luhring Augustine, New York
Grab a Pint and View the To Sprout, To Share, To Sing Sculpture Exhibit at Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co.
To Sprout, To Share, To Sing is an extracurricular exhibition assembled by six Rinehart School of Sculpture graduate students from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore. In the interest of making art accessible to all as well as taking small steps towards resuming interactions in the wake of the pandemic, these graduate students have joined with Elder Pine Brewing to present this mixture of culture and recreation. In response to the themes of cultivation and growth, the Rinehart cohort bring new as well as existing works to further enhance the visual landscape of this picturesque location nestled beside a pine forest.
Lauren Hyde, a Maryland native, takes nature as a starting point to create temporary raw clay installations. Yang Liu, from China, makes sculptures and installations in abstract forms as visual narratives of daily observations of the world. With a focus on natural materials, Colorado’s EB Jauer explores the themes of tension and balance. Geoffrey Krist from Connecticut addresses concepts of belief through his artwork in a variety of materials. Coming from China, Zewen Liu is inspired by mythology, making fantasy-style figures and animal sculptures. Alexander Rudd, raised in New Mexico has been focusing on site-specific work in response to the natural world and climate change.
Exhibit runs May 1 – August 19, 2021.
Sculpture Garden Highlights:
3 Bethesda Metro Center| “Paint the Town” Mural Project | Juan Pineda
Follow the Art Trails throughout the County’s Three Arts and Entertainment Districts
The state of Maryland designated three Arts and Entertainment Districts right here in Montgomery County. The purpose of these districts is to foster creative projects that contribute to the artistic, cultural and economic growth to the designated downtown areas. Follow the art trails around downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton.
Bethesda Highlights:
“Paint the Town” Mural Project, 2016
3 Bethesda Metro Center
Painted Mural
Artist: Juan Pineda
Madonna of the Trail, 1928
Bethesda Post Office, 7400 Wisconsin Ave
Statue symbolizing the courage and faith of pioneer women.
The first of 11 statues marking the National Trail westward.
Crystal Willow
Gateway Building, 7201 Wisconsin Ave
Glass & metal sculpture with prisms
Artisit: Rockne Krebs
Silver Spring Highlights:
Bio Wall
United Therapeutics Corporation, 1040 Spring Street
Art and Educational HD Video Installation
Murals of Historic Silver Spring
Acorn Park, 1190 East-West Highway
Five-Panel Mural
Artist: Mame Cohalon
Botero Ballerinas, 2013
8711 Georgia Ave.
Stainless Steel (Wind Kinetic Sculpture)
Artist: Barton Rubenstein
Wheaton Highlights:
Our Diverse Cultures, 2007
Wheaton Walkway, between Georgia Avenue and Triangle Lane
Artist: Arts on the Block
The Commuter, 1994
Wheaton Metro Garage, 11171 Georgia Avenue
Bronze Sculpture
Artist: Marcia Billig
Six Bas-Relief Sculptures, 2003
Levin Greenberg Building, 11200 Grandview Avenue
Artist: Philip Ratner
Looking for more ways to explore the outdoors around Montgomery County? Check out the local breweries and wineries along the Tastemakers Trail or explore the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
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