I recently had the pleasure and good fortune to walk the grounds and learn the history and inner workings of I-Park Foundation in East Haddam. Nestled on the edge of Devil’s Hopyard, this 450-acre utopia is home to a thriving, multidisciplinary artists-in-residence program that came to life in 2001. Co-Founders Ralph Crispino and Joanne Paradis and their consummate staff welcome about 50 juried artists per year. The artists call I-Park’s carefully restored 1840’s farmhouse home during their fully-funded 4-week residencies. While here, these creative individuals are totally free to work at their own pace and on whatever they choose, in their private studios as well as spaces they are drawn to around the grounds. Disciplines run the gamut from visual art and architecture to music composition and creative writing. Their works are installed, displayed and performed throughout the property, often integrating, celebrating and complementing various unique aspects of the environment. All of this makes for a most inspired, uplifting, curious walk along the trails, of which there are over 20! 

Opportunities to experience the art and nature of I-Park happen often and we highly recommend it. Check the Events Calendar for Open Trails (receive a trail map with a key to each of the works) and other public events.  I-Park hopes to resume its monthly Open Studios events in 2022, having suspended them in 2020 and again this year because of Covid.

Here are a few upcoming events to celebrate I-Park’s 20th Anniversary:

Saturday, 9/18 at 2pm: Site-Responsive Art Biennale Opening
Experience 9 new, in addition to over 40 existing, site-responsive artworks while strolling I-Park’s unique system of art/nature trails.

Saturday, 9/25 at 4pm: Music Along the Trails: A Benefit to Support the I-Park Foundation
Enjoy music selections throughout the evening, most of them written over the last 20 years by I-Park’s composers-in-residence. Catered by Mark Shadle and G-Monkey.

Friday, 10/1 & 11/5 at 5pm: Founder’s Evening Guided Trail Walk: The First Twenty Years
Back by popular demand! Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres and an intimate guided trail walk with founder, Ralph Crispino.

428 Hopyard Road, East Haddam
events@i-park.org
860-873-2468
Learn More About I-Park International Artist-in-Residence Program
Cover Image: Haemee Han of jaemee studio, The Lily Project, 2021-Drone Shot by Frank DiNardi