“Current” by Frank Vasello

“Ripple” by Adria Arch and the Arlington Knitting Brigade

If trees along the Minuteman Bikeway could talk, what would they say about the two most recent Arlington Public Art installations? I think they would say thank you for the respectful attention they’ve been given by artists Adria Arch (“Ripple”) and  Frank Vasello (“Current”). As a person passing along the Bikeway, I truly thank both artists for engaging me with the enduring structures and distinct qualities among trees. At the same time, I relish the marvelous patterns created by human hands and minds. I want to look longer, return often, and urge others to visit these artworks too.

View of “Current” from Bikeway down toward Spy Pond

View of “Ripple” from below the Bikeway

View of “Current” from below Bikeway

View of “Ripple” from below the Bikeway

Here are a few facts, quotes, links and photos that fit with what I learned from artists Adria Arch and Frank Vasello, as well as Arlington’s Public Art Consultant Cecily Miller at the Fox Library/13Forest Gallery event on Saturday, October 21.

“Ripple” by Adria Arch and the Arlington Knitting Brigade

“The installation is called ‘Ripple’ for several reasons. I was looking for a title that would not be too obvious, a title that would refer to the proximity of Spy Pond, to the circular imagery of the bands around the trees and to the idea that creativity ripples from its source, informing and exciting more creativity ever outward.”

With so many people working on the project, she “named each of the trees in the installation in order to maintain an order. I wanted a variety of sizes of trees, and I chose certain trees in the grove and had each tree group work on that tree’s diameter.

Arch wanted each tree to have about 20 feet of knit work, so she divided each tree into five sections, each about 48 inches high.

Arch said she makes the final choices about design and placement. Several volunteers will help to sew the swatches into the 20-foot lengths of knit work.

Arch, a painter and long a promoter of public art in town, see this latest effort as a significant way to engage: Consider the brisk turnout of knitting participants.

Why? In part, she said, because the activity is fun, adds tinges of humor to creation and involves people in something bigger than themselves.

“The installation is temporary and will be on view for six months. Because the colorful sleeves are made from acrylic yarn, the work will survive rain and snow without damage. Curator and public art manager Cecily Miller plans to keep “Ripple” up through spring, so that visitors can enjoy it as the seasons transform the natural landscape bordering the bikeway.” ( This statement and captions of my photos above are quoted from Ripples of Peace to Flow Out on Bikeway,  article by Bob Sprague.)

“Current” by Frank Vasello

“Current,” created by Provincetown artist Frank Vasello, creates a river of sticks moving down a hill near the Spy Pond Park playground.

He hopes that falling leaves from surrounding trees will fill in some of the gaps in the piece.

“Gathering the material is half the battle,” said Vasello. “It’s a lot of running around under trees.”

A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Vasello has created over a dozen of these stick-based pieces and spent the past week installing this one.

“Nothing holds it together, it just kind of is,” he [Vasello] said. Despite this, the pieces stay together for a while in their environment. A previous piece he constructed in the Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston lasted for three years. Vasello will return to the Spy Pond site occasionally to check on the piece and will tidy it up in the spring if the winter shifts anything.”(This statement and captions of my photos above are quoted from Environmental art installed along the Minuteman Bikeway, article by Abbi Matheson. )

Reflecting on my recent efforts to post about temporary artwork, my immediate goal should be to let people know quickly so they can go themselves if possible. My own revisits and slow processing might lead to a more personal, precise presentation in the form of a follow-up post later on. That can be phase 2. This post is phase 1, so you’ll know what is there before it isn’t.

Valuable Resources, including those quoted:

Adria Arch artist’s website

Arlington’s Pathways by Megan Gregory for Big Red and Shiny 10/3/2017

Arlington Public Art  Pathways: Art on the Bikeway

Environmental art installed along the Minuteman Bikeway by Abbi Matheson for Wicked Local Lexington, 10/25/2017

Frank Vasello Artist’s Statement for Forest Hills Educational Trust: Exhibitions and Sculpture

Ripples of Peace to Flow Out on Bikeway by Bob Sprague for Your Arlington.Com, updated 10/ 1/ 2017 

13Forest Gallery: News: Outside/In

Where arts, culture take root and thrive by Sophie Eppolito for Boston Globe, 9/29/2017