Sculpture in the Grass

It's a conundrum, said Carrie Flood, manager of the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts.

"How do you make a town-owned former school building look like something other than a town-owned former school building?"

This week, Flood found the answer as the front lawn of the former Emerson School on Stow Street was studded with large abstract and realistic sculptures from artists in Concord to Boston.

Called "Big Art," the sculptures will be exhibited until November 1. Eleven artists are represented on the Umbrella lawn.

"We wanted to give a vision for the organization," said sculptor and Umbrella board member Jean Ford-Webb who curated the show with Bill Turville, an Arlington sculptor.

In a grander scheme, Ford-Webb said the length of Stow Street, from the library past the Hunt Gym and Emerson Playground to Alcott School, could be in some way a display of public art.

"We are thrilled with the response to this show," she said.

Flood said she approached Town Manager Chris Whelan who was receptive to the idea of the art display on the Umbrella lawn. The building is owned by the town and leased to the Umbrella. Inside, a cooperative of artists have studios, and the spacious theater is rented out to outside groups.

A striking modern piece by Concord artist Michio Ihara stands tall and shiny, while a white elephant made for the Umbrella show by Jamaica Plain sculptor Donna Dodson stands along the entrance path.

Dodson said she heard about the show at a meeting of the Boston Sculptors Gallery and crafted the elephant from Styrofoam covered in stucco and cement.

A large work by the late Dimitri Hadzi is nearby.

Board President Owen Beenhouer thinks the show is "terrific."

"We've been hoping for something like this," he said. "We are a beehive of activity inside, but there isn't enough exposure to the rest of the community."

Flood said there are about 60 artists in the 50 Umbrella studios. Some artists share a space, which Flood said was a product of economic fallout.

"There is more art being made here," said Flood.

Murray Dewart welded bronze forms to columns of granite for his work.

"This is a stunningly good idea," said Dewart at the reception. "Artists need to work near each other."

"Art is born not from nature but from other artists," said weaver Barbara Willis with a studio at the Umbrella.