Museum Launches Outdoor 'Aldrich Box' Installations In Ridgefield

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum has announced the launch of its 2025 Aldrich Box initiative, marking the first time the annual participatory art series will be staged outdoors at the museum’s sculpture garden.

The Aldrich Box, established in 2021, commissions artists to design interactive art objects intended for public engagement. In previous years, the boxes were available for loan to homes and public spaces. This year, museum visitors can interact with the installations on-site by checking in at the front desk to receive a key and instruction guide.

The 2025 series features two artists: Mongolia-based artist Jantsankhorol Erdenebayar and Kingston, N.Y.-based artist Koyolzintli. Each artist’s contribution will be displayed in the garden for one year.

Erdenebayar’s piece, "Channeling our human energy for the journey ahead," debuts in July. The copper-shell object draws on Mongolian mythology and nomadic traditions. Its design incorporates symbolic elements such as goat horns and a mirror, intended to evoke protection, movement, and spiritual reflection.

In September, Koyolzintli will present "Whistling Jar," a water-activated sculptural sound piece. Influenced by Andean and pre-Columbian instruments, the work emphasizes ancestral memory and indigenous storytelling. Visitors will receive instructions and a short meditation to guide their interaction.

More information is available at the museum's website.