Guided Hikes At The Clark In July And August
WILLIAMSTOWN - Take a 45 minute hike with an experienced trail guide and discover the scenic walking paths and hiking trails on the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute's grounds. Art in Nature Trail Hikes will be held on Tuesdays in July at 3, 4, and 5 pm, and Saturdays in August at 1, 2, and 3 pm. Guided hikes are free with paid gallery admission. Weather permitting.Hikes, led by local naturalist Dave Ackerson, begin and end at the picnic tent near the Manton Research Center, and will include a walk around Stone Hill Center, the Stone Bench, and the site of the Visitor, Exhibition, and Conference Center to be completed in 2013. Along the way hikers will encounter magnificent views of the Green Mountains and Taconic Range, beautiful woodlands, and scenic pasture vistas.
With the opening of Stone Hill Center on June 22, two paths were created for visitors to experience art in nature while walking to the new building designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. These gravel paths, the Howard and Nan paths, offer the best approach to Stone Hill Center. The Pasture Trail and Stone Bench Trail loops explore the far reaches of the Clark's 140-acre campus. Trail maps are available at the admissions desk in both the Manton Research Center and Stone Hill Center.
Length, approximate time, and details of the Clark's paths and trails:
* Howard Path to Stone Hill Center - 0.3 miles, 8 minutes, includes wooden steps
* Nan Path to Stone Hill Center - 0.4 miles, 10 minutes, no steps
* Pasture Trail Loop - 0.7 miles, 30 minutes, sneakers or hiking boots recommended
* Stone Bench Trail Loop - 1.5 miles, 1 hour, sneakers or hiking boots recommended
The Clark's grounds, with expansive lawns, meadows, and walking paths and hiking trails, are open to the public free of charge. Picnic tables and benches dot the property, enabling visitors to pause and enjoy the surroundings, and the spacious South Lawn provides an inviting space for families.
The 32,000-square-foot Stone Hill Center blends gracefully into the hillside just south of the Clark's main entrance, where it is integrated into the surrounding campus through a network of scenic trails. The two-story, wood-and-glass building provides generous vistas of the countryside, with a terrace and outdoor café offering a panorama of the Green Mountains and Taconic Range. Stone Hill Center houses two intimately scaled gallery spaces and the Williamstown Art Conservation Center (WACC). The building's design provides visitors on the terrace or in the courtyard the chance to see conservators at work in their studios. On view through October 19 at Stone Hill Center is Homer and Sargent from the Clark.
The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (daily in July and August). Admission June 1 through October 31 is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and younger, members, and students with valid ID. Admission is free November 1 through May 31. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu.
