Organizers of “The Great Art-Doors” are truly hoping the third time will be the charm for the outdoor exhibition’s opening reception.

The formal opening for the exhibition within Nettleton Preserve is now planned for Saturday, July 18. The event will be presented from noon until 4 pm, when it will be "hopefully less hot then and with less threat of afternoon summer storms," local artist and exhibit curator Annette Womack told The Newtown Bee this week. Light refreshments will be served and many artists are planning to be in attendance.

The reception was originally scheduled for June 27, and then July 5. It was postponed first due to oppressive heat and then following a strong summer storm.

Newtown Forest Association (NFA), in partnership with Womack, is hosting the trail exhibition within the NFA-owned property with access from Old Castle Drive. “The Great Art-Doors” is on view daily from dawn to dusk until September 11.

NFA and Womack invited local artists to display their work along the scenic trails in a temporary outdoor exhibit. Nettleton Preserve is a 26-acre property that runs adjacent to parts of Old Castle Drive, Castle Drive, and West Street. An iron bench provides seating over one of the most photographed scenes in town: the view toward the Main Street flagpole; the steeples of Newtown Congregational Church, Newtown Meeting House, and Trinity Episcopal Church; and rolling hills beyond.

Those who follow the trails from the top of that hill this summer will be surprised with ten installations. Artists have created mixed media works, wood and acrylic, metal, wires, clay, cement, repurposed materials, and more. The artists with work accepted into the exhibition are Paula Brinkman, Patrick Dunne, R.T. Eckenrode, Alexia “Lexi” Gonzalez, Lucia Romano, Daisy Sorenson and Darryl Sorenson, and Tracy Van Buskirk.

Organizer-curator Womack also has a piece included in “The Great Art-Doors.”

The theme for the inaugural exhibit was “Open,” and artists were encouraged to interpret that any way they wished. Artists were encouraged to create works that engage with the natural surroundings, spark curiosity, and enhance the visitor experience on the trails.

Readers are invited to explore the preserve at 2 Old Castle Drive to find and enjoy the ten works that have been installed (the Sorensens collaborated on their piece). Signage and “Great Art-Doors” trail maps will guide visitors through the exhibition. QR codes on each work’s accompanying tag will take visitors to a page on the NFA website that offers artist statements and biographies for the participating artists.

Those planning to visit “The Great Art-Doors” should note the terrain is hilly, and steep in some locations.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.