Photos of the Connecticut portion of the historic New England National Scenic Trail (NET) taken by artist Xiomaro will be on display in the Connecticut General Assembly’s Legislative Office Building in Hartford from April 3 to 14.
"The New England National Scenic Trail" features 40 prints exhibited on 250 feet of wall space "which visitors can view from either a moving walkway or by strolling up the corridor that links the Legislative Office Building and the Capitol Building, Connecticut’s seat of government," a release on Xiomaro's website reports.
"The immersive experience will introduce visitors to the scenic diversity of fields, forests, river valleys, and mountains encountered along the New England National Scenic Trail – also known as the 'NET'," the release states.
The NET, which stretches approximately 215 miles from the Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, was designated by Congress as a national scenic trail in 2009, the release reports. The NET has been a favorite of adventurers and landscape painters for generations, according to the release, but “Connecticut’s 110-mile portion of the trail is still being discovered by residents who enjoy hiking, walking, and nature,” Xiomaro said.
Xiomaro used his unique perspective when taking the photographs so viewers "will virtually hike the NET in various seasons and weather conditions to encounter Connecticut’s large-scale beauty," the release states.
The photos capture mountains, valleys and forests, rural towns and historic landmarks, as well as images that capture "the smallest overlooked details of the trail’s range of diverse ecosystems," according to the release.
In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) commissioned Xiomaro as a Centennial Artist-in-Residence to celebrate NPS' 100th anniversary by undertaking a year-long project to document the historic trail with a collection of photographs. Some of the 223 photographs, which were taken in Connecticut and Massachusetts, have been published, but the exhibit coming to Hartford will be the first formal, public display of the collection.
