COURTESY PHOTO Jon Barlow Hudson, from Ohio, is one of the three sculptors taking part in this year's Nashua International Sculpture Symposium.

But few if any are as appropriate as the one our fair city has just begun celebrating, and will celebrate a whole lot more later this week when the 12th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium gets underway with its gala opening reception.

Yes, May is “Nashua Sculptures Month,” and what a month it is for everyone in Greater Nashua, whether you consider yourself a well-traveled fine arts aficionado, an enthusiast with more than a passing interest in the field or someone who simply appreciates watching creative, gifted artists pour their heart and soul into their work.

See accompanying information for dates, times, artist biographies, the opening reception and the symposium schedule.

The three-week symposium debuted in 2008 as a smaller event, inspired by a conversation John Weidman, well-known sculptor and director of the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, had with Meri Goyette, one of the most effective and tireless advocates of the arts in Nashua.

COURTESY PHOTO Jocelyn Pratt, from New Zealand, is one of the three sculptors taking part in this year's Nashua International Sculpture Symposium.

Still today, Nashua holds the distinction as the only city in the United States to host an international sculpture symposium.

“Truly a community project,” is how organizers describe the annual event. Each year, the sculptors stay at the homes of Nashua residents, and they and others bring meals to the sculptors as they work and provide them transportation when necessary.

This year’s theme, “Evolve,” is appropriate, Picker Artists managing partner Gail Moriarty said, as both the work site and the opening reception locations have “evolved” into new spaces.

“We are thrilled to welcome the sculptors into our space,” Moriarty said. “The energy and collaboration will introduce us and the sculptors to new skills and cultures.”

As for the opening reception, it moves this year to a newly-renovated community space at the Hunt Community.

COURTESY PHOTO Gerard Motondi, from Kenya, is one of the three sculptors taking part in this year's Nashua International Sculpture Symposium.

John Parolin, marketing director for Silverstone Living, the Hunt Community’s parent company, said the community is looking forward to hosting the reception.

“We have partnered with the symposium for several years now,” Parolin said, referring to its support role that includes providing food for previous opening receptions.

“Having the reception in our beautifully renovated community space is a continuation of that partnership,” he added.

This year’s sculptors will work under the direction of Weidman, the Andres Institute founder, and Jim Larson, the institute’s studio manager.

They, along with the three sculptors, will be at Thursday’s reception, and welcome the chance to meet and chat with local folks.

Take it from someone who’s been there, done that ­ try your best to carve out an hour or two here and there between May 13-29 to go see the artists create.

Be careful, though, especially if you’re sneaking away from work for a so-called “extended lunch” ­ it’s really easy to get wrapped up in watching these folks create.

And unless your boss happens to be a connoisseur of the arts, I don’t think “watching the sculptors” qualifies as an excused absence.

This year’s participating sculptors

Brief biographies of this year’s participating sculptors follow. Anyone who wants to watch the sculptors at work can visit their work site at the Picker Artists studios at 3 Pine St., in the city’s Millyard, between 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. May 13-29.

• Gerard Motondi:

Gerard, 54, a sculptor and college lecturer from Nairobi, Kenya, has a masters in fine arts and is currently a doctorate candidate in public art at Kenyatta University.

He has produced works for public spaces in the U.S., Canada, Israel, South Korea, China, Dubai, Turkey, India, Russia and his home country of Kenya.

Gerard won gold medal and Olympic torch honors at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Fine Art exhibition in China. He was awarded the Head of State commendation in 2011.

He has also been an elementary school teacher, has taught fine art at the high school level, and since 2006 has been teaching arts and crafts at Asumbi Teachers College in Nairobi.

• Jocelyn Pratt

Jocelyn, from Putaruru, New Zealand, a small town in the nation’s northern island, is an established New Zealand sculptor presenting modernist interpretive works representative of natural forms.

She favors working with local resources, exploring and enhancing the natural qualities of stone with polish and texture techniques.

Her works are tactile and suggestive of a restful gentle form, a juxtaposition of the natural solidity and strength of the stone and concept.

Jocelyn’s work has been featured in more than 70 symposia and in numerous exhibitions, and is held in public and private collections around the world.

• Jon Barlow Hudson

Jon, 73, from Ohio, was born in Montana, but at age 6 moved to Saudi Arabia with his family for three years. Since receiving a master of fine arts degree in 1972 from Cal-Arts, then spending two years in a California gold mine, Jon has been creating large-scale sculpture projects for public environments throughout the United States and in 27 other countries, including 24 throughout China alone.

He is known for being particularly sensitive to designing for compatibility with the architectural context, environmental ambience and thematic requirements of the sculpture project, resulting in unique sculptures that transform their situation.

IF YOU GO

IF YOU GO

WHAT:The 12th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium gets underway with an opening reception this week.

WHEN:Thursday, May 9, 6-8 p.m.

WHERE:Hunt Community, 10 Allds St., Nashua

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets cost$15 per person; age 12 and under free.Tickets are available at www.nashuasculpturesymposium.org, remaining tickets sold at the door

MORE INFORMATION: www.nashuasculpturesymposium.org, or email nashua.sculpture@gmail.com

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