“This year, we have a couple of changes to our annual events. We just did the Art & Earth Day, which we had to shift to a virtual experience online, and actually, it’s still up on our website and Facebook page,” said Sean FitzGibbons, executive director at Pyramid Hill.
He said the Brews Blues & BBQ event will be combined with the Art Fair this year, and it will be transformed into an Art & Music Festival on Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost per carload is $10.
The festival will include live music, family-friendly activities, crafts, and games for children of all ages, and food trucks. More than 70 artists are expected to participate, and will offer a variety of handmade art.
”We are reopening the park, because we feel like we have the ability to be a resource for the community, and have people come out. We have plenty of space, as long as people are following the social distancing guidelines that we put in place, I feel that right now it’s a safe way to go with this first phase,” FitzGibbons said.
The staff will continue to get together remotely to discuss the capabilities of the park to dictate the phases of reopening other areas.
“We’re opening to members only because that minimizes the interaction between staff and our guests. As a test run, we wanted to make sure we minimized that interaction and stayed as distant as possible. So, with members only, it just made sense for us to do that,” FitzGibbons said.
With members only, it does not allow everyone into the park all at once, and the staff can gradually determine what the needs are, and where the park is successful in reopening. Then, Pyramid Hill can plan accordingly, and grow that, he said.
“Our staff, the board and I are thrilled to be able to be an outdoor resource for the public and for our community. We are providing an outdoor, safe and a beautiful resource. That is our mission statement - bringing people to art and nature,” FitzGibbons said.
“BORDERS,” a contemporary outdoor exhibition by Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir, is currently on display at Pyramid Hill through March of 2021. The exhibition features a series of 11 pairs of cast iron and cast aluminum, life-sized, figurative sculptures. BORDERS is set among the park’s scenic rolling hills, gardens, and ponds, and can be discovered throughout the park.
“Journey Borealis” drive-through holiday light display will run from Friday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, Hours are Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Unfortunately, we will not be able to have the same scope as we envisioned, however, we do plan on having a stepped-up version of ‘Borealis’ this year,” FitzGibbons said.
Other upcoming events at Pyramid Hill include a Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 20; Red, White, and Cart Tours on July 4th weekend; and a Meteor Shower Party on Friday, August 14. The Summer Series for Kids will be held every Wednesday in June and July from noon to 1 p.m. For a complete list of upcoming exhibitions and events, visit www.pyramidhill.org/events.
The cost of a student membership is $25; and a family membership is $45. Other membership levels are also available. Those who would like to make a donation to Pyramid Hill can do so by clicking on the “donate” button on the website at www.pyramidhill.org/support.
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum is located at 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, (Ohio 128) in Hamilton. For more information, to sign up for the Pyramid Hill newsletter, or to purchase a membership, go to www.pyramidhill.org.
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