Widely celebrated as one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center has welcomed visitors from across the globe for fifty years. It is located only one hour north of New York City, in the lower Hudson Valley, where its pristine 500-acre landscape of fields, hills, and woodlands provides the setting for a collection of more than 100 carefully sited sculptures created by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time. 

Now that Spring has sprung, we are going to plan another trip to Storm King. We went there for the first time in the Fall with Cam’s Dad and his wife Lynne – that is everyone under the sculpture! It was one of the best things we have done since moving to New York City, and I look forward to going there again. Storm King is amazing, just so beautiful. If you like Sculpture, and gardens, and a walk through a park with outstanding views, then you will love Storm King. We found it was a great extended family outing. Enjoyable for both the Grandparents, and the children. Especially great for energetic children, they get to run and run and run, as there are no waiting or lines in sight. They asked that you do not to climb on the sculptures (rocks are ok!) which at times is very tempting – even for grown ups!

We packed some hot tea and snacks and had a quick picnic before we set out walking the 500 acres. There is an open air cafe near the car parking lot that offers some yummy options – you know I like good quality, and I was impressed. We walked and walked and walked, all over the park. The girls were fantastic, literally walking for 4 hours. We made many seated stops to take in the scenery, and there were some pick-me-up moments and with a few shoulder rides here and there. So grateful they are good walkers.

We were treated to a rain storm while there, which had us all run for cover under various sculptures. It was very dramatic with dark grey clouds rolling in, dropping heavy rain and then parting as quickly as they came. It was all so moody and appropriate given the name…we were lucky that it did not cut our day short. The rain clouds lightened up and we continued on or way.

There is an open tour trolly ride available, which we jumped aboard at the end of our day to cover some distance quickly. Despite walking for hours we did not see everything. There are also push bikes for rent, and so you can pack a picnic for your love and the pair of you can bike around Storm King – sounds romantic right? When we were there we saw many hipsters doing just that. It made me want to be young and in love (and a hipster)…all is not lost…the love part I can do, and so this Spring we plan on doing the bike n’picnic combo…but of course we will have the children with us. Anyone else want to come too? Let me know and we can set the date!

It was hard for me to decide what my favorite sculpture was. I adore Andy Goldsworthy and it was a highlight to see “Storm King Wall” by him, but after much thought my favorite piece is “Storm King Wavefield” by Maya Lin. You can read about it in the NY Times. I  grew up between rolling green paddocks and the ocean, these undulating hills feel so right to me. I love how the trodden people path is like the cow paths of my family farm. This work speaks to my soul on so many levels.

Like I said, we went in early Autumn. I have heard it is especially beautiful in late Autumn when the leaves are at their peak colour. Each season brings something unique to the experience. I look forward to visiting one day when the wildflowers are in bloom. Storm King is the perfect outing when you want to get away from the day to day of regular life, and need something restorative rather than stimulating. It is a Zen paradise that recharges the soul.

Hours

Storm King is open Wednesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from April through November. Opening hours are 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (grounds remain open until 8:00 pm on Saturdays, May 26–September 1, and on Sunday May 27 and Sunday September 2); until 5:00 pm in November. Storm King is open only on weekends after November 11 (November 17–18 and 24–25). The 2012 Storm King season closes on November 25.

Fees

Adults $12
Senior Citizens (65 and older) $10
College Students (with valid id) $8
Students (K-12) $8
Children under 5 Free
Members Free

As a follow on from my last post – about trying not to buy, buy, buy, and being inventive and creative instead, I came up with this little project for the girls. Despite my knowing that catalogues are produced with the purpose of making purchases happen, I still subscribe to numerous catalogues. I intend on canceling them, but in the meanwhile, some really beautiful catalogues come through our mail slot. Some I toss them into the recycling without a glance, others I save to ooh ahh over. The Pink Chicken New York Summer catalogue arrived this week, and it has some really beautiful clothes. I sat looking over and over the pages trying to decide what I would buy, if I had a choice. The layout of the catalogue had many dresses laying flat on a plain white background. It was something about the colours and patterns, I really really liked them, and I was feeling the pinch of wanting to buy one. I think my desire sprouted a craft project. I started imagining the dresses on paper dolls. I could not have one in reality, but that did not mean I could not enjoy the designs and styles. It was not long before I had scissors in hand and a pretty pile of cut out paper clothes. The girls were both enthusiastic and took turns choosing from the pile. We then went ahead and made catalogue cut out collages. It was a really fun craft activity. I am thinking of extending this further into traditional paper dolls. I loved that I was able to adore the sweet little dresses, and that my swooning led to a creative outcome!

Happy Valentine’s Day! What a sweet day! This year we made bookmarks for Maya’s class as a Valentine gift. 1st grade is all about learning to read and so I thought it appropriate that we make “I love Reading” bookmarks. Useful and cute, and not too lovey dovey to give out to friends. Maya also had an extra special Valentine’s card and home made cookies for her sweet heart…you know with Maya there is always someone she admires!

I was really pleased how the bookmarks turned turned out. They were a great environmentally friendly option, and are a much better health option than giving chocolate or candy. I had the idea yesterday morning and so before Maya went to school I had her paint a large sheet of 180gms water colour paper. I then cut it into strips with an exacto blade, and did the hole punches. I carved a little heart stamp for the LOVE. Then when Maya got home she worked on the stamping. We raided our ribbon drawer for a finishing touch, and there you have it, 24 lovely handmade Valentine’s bookmarks.

Last year I made cupids arrows, (but not for everyone in Maya’s class). The year before that we had a Valentine’s party that we made feather heart headbands for our guest to wear.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s day! Love, Love, LOVE!

I finished this painting today…Bountiful Peacock…the third painting in what seems to be a series. He looks like a story book Character don’t you think? “The bountiful peacock was a proud fellow, blessed with so much beauty…but silly him thought he needed more…”

This week I have found some quiet time to sit and paint…well actually it was not really that quiet around here, always talkative girls with me…but maybe it was quiet within… painting seems to brings a clam to my mind – regardless of what is going on around me, and I really do need that. I am unfolding in painting…and I really feel like painting. So good for the soul. Excited to share these two images with you. The first one I have called Quiet Fox, and the second I have called Ornate Antler Deer. There is nothing very original about them, but they are pretty! Just appropriations from things I have seen in pop culture. So easy in this day and age to be exposed to endless art, especially with a fine Art  pintrest, board brimming with beauty. I am excited to say I have another painting on the way, keep your eye out for the bountiful peacock. Hope these pretty pictures make you feel good. Have a great day friends!