Brookline Sculptor John Weidman

The Man of Steel

Have you ever been to Andres Institute of Art in Brookline? It’s an amazing place, a hill covered with trees and studded with sculptural works created onsite by sculptors from around the world. It’s the coolest man-made walking experience in the state to come about through benefactor and artist.

Entrepreneur Paul Andre had a vision and Brookline sculptor John Weidman expanded the view outward. He developed the annual Bridges and Connections International Sculpture Symposium after attending a symposium in Central Europe. Now, each September, four to six artists converge in Brookline, are hosted by townspeople and work diligently creating unique pieces for specific spots on the hill in about three weeks. There are now about 76 works scattered on trails throughout the 140-acre property to date.

Each year Weidman picks a theme, part challenge and part focal point for each artist. This year the theme is “Introspection.” His artists will be considering the impact of how one’s actions are received by others. In late September their steel, stone or mixed media interpretations will be on view, scattered among previous years’ ponderings.

Weidman, who often works in monumental scale in steel and stone, has a few of his own works on display at Andres and currently is showing a stainless steel piece (left) at Millbrook Gallery’s 16th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on view through the fall.