“Sap” and “Tandem” by Carl D’Alvia Credit: Courtesy of Andy Duback

If you don’t generally equate the word “minimalism” with “fun,” get yourself to Shelburne Museum. Amid the historic buildings and picturesque gardens, you’ll find colorful aluminum outdoor sculptures by artist Carl D’Alvia, who hails from West Cornwall, Conn., and New York City. In addition to the ideals of form and volume, D’Alvia’s “liths” (as in “monoliths”) celebrate personality and sass. “Sap” flops over, bright green and reminiscent of an exhausted Gumby. “Tandem” is like a mama curve and her baby, their tummies pressed together. “Specter” references a ghost but could equally portray a wagging tongue. “Loaf” leans against the side of a barn, farmer-like. Each one reads as a monument to playfulness.

‘Carl D’Alvia: (mono)LITHS’: On view through October 25 at Shelburne Museum.

This article appears in June 24 • 2026.

Alice Dodge joined Seven Days in April 2024 as visual arts editor and proofreader. She earned a bachelor's degree at Oberlin College and an MFA in visual studies at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She previously worked at the Center for Arts...