Art moves outdoors on a local level, joining the hardier ranks of Storm King and other noted al fresco collections, with the afternoon artists' reception marking the official opening of the 11th annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at New Paltz's Unison Arts this coming Sunday, June 7. Adding extra icing to the happenings, a sweet mix of site-specific adventurous works and more traditional Modernist expressions in 3-D, will be an accompanying indoor exhibition of local photographer Claudia Gorman's hand-colored photographs of the Unison Sculpture Garden taken over recent years. Up through the end of the month, the show will be a great means of softening one's vision of the works on hand, muted with the soft wash of nostalgic interpretation.

The Garden, building over time, has taken on a sense of permanence at this point, via larger works by key regional sculptors settling into their sites, as well as a healthy Zenlike recognition of its own impermanence, as captured by pieces like Francois Deschamps' Posted signs around the property. Open through the autumn (and into each winter), it's a pleasant spot for reflection below the Shawangunk Ridge, as well as a place for contemplation before attending Unison's many performance and educational events: one of the county's great cultural treasures.

Prior to the Unison openings will be a pair of scheduled walk-and-talks involving both the labyrinth at Unison and a 2 p.m. get-together at the equally precious Roots & Wings maze located at 2 Ramah Lane in New Paltz, located off Guilford Schoolhouse Road. For more information call (845) 255-1559 or visit www.unisonarts.org.