Sculptures and universal meaning
In recent years, public sculpture in America has come under scrutiny for its racial biases and the cultural exclusion of ethnic minorities. These critiques challenge us to reconsider not only what is represented in public art, but who is left out. In Berkshire County, Massachusetts, especially in the summer, sculpture is everywhere. From the grounds of the Edith Wharton House to Turn Park and Chesterwood, sculpture parks are woven into the cultural landscape. Art in the Berkshires is part of the seasonal indulgence of the middle and upper classes, many of whom visit as part of their vacation or reside here in summer homes. Sculptures are acquired for enjoyment, for investment, and for the prestige they confer. But how should one make sense of a sculpture—whether it’s a literal rendering of reality or an abstract form? Janet Wolff, in her 1984 book The Social Production of Art , reminds us that all art is a social product. Sculpture, like any art form, carries meaning on multiple levels...