Last week we decided to take a day trip to Storm King Art Center , a remarkable outdoor museum set on 500 glorious acres in NY’s Hudson Valley. We mapped it out and were happy to see it was only 90 minutes from home.
Storm King has been a destination for art lovers since 1960, and features works from artists ranging from Roy Lichtenstein to Louise Nevelson, to Maya Lin, and many more! Visitors are welcome Wednesday- Monday, and tickets must be purchased ahead of time. You can do so here. Somehow we had never found time for a trip, but we looked forward to remedying that.
I will share many photos from the idyllic day we experienced, but these should not serve as a substitute for a visit. As gorgeous as these photos are, they pale in comparison to the real works of art.
The first works we encountered upon arrival were created by Mark di Suvero. His works can be found all over the world, and are just spectacular. Neruda’s Gate, seen below, is from 2005, one of his more recent pieces.
Mother Peace , created in protest to the Vietnam War in 1969-70 is one that really resonated with me.
Pyramidian was moved to Storm King in 1995, and at that point it was still incomplete. He finished the piece in its present location in 1998, adding the 60 foot bean suspended within the “Pyramid.
Roy Lichtenstein’s Mermaid from 1974 (which had been originally painted on a functioning sailboat), can’t help but evoke a smile.
One of the most unique works at Storm King is Maya Lin’s Wavefield which is built right into the earth. Maya Lin is generally associated with her Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC, but Wavefield is equally as impressive, allowing her to share her respect and concern for the environment.
There was ample opportunity to just sit and be at peace with the surroundings. We arrived to Storm King at 10 am when it opened, which afforded us a sense of having the entire property to ourselves, at least for a little bit. As the morning progressed, not only did many more visitors arrive, but the temperature started soaring as well.
Zhang Huan’s Three Legged Buddha was also a showstopper. Inspired by Huan’s fascination, and later conversion to Buddhism, the sculpture contains places to burn incense within it, so the smoke is expelled through the eyes, nostrils and toes.
Come to Storm King prepared to walk. We ended up clocking three or so miles, so be sure to wear comfy shoes. There is also the opportunity to rent bikes in order to explore more efficiently.
Nam June Paik is known as the founder of video art, so this particular sculpture Waiting for UFO is a special one. The enduring relationship the artist has with the television is present here, with the addition of Buddhas tying together art, technology, and nature.
Lynda Benglis‘ sculpture North South East West resembles creatures coming up out of the sea. It was a nice shady place to stop and rest.
Louise Nevelson is one of my favorites, but I had never seen a sculpture of hers on such a large scale. City on the High Mountain, done in the later years of her career is painted a striking black, and capped by a bundle of spikes representing a period, giving a sense of finality to the piece.
Alexander Liberman’s The Iliad which dates to 1976 was another highlight. Liberman was not only a noted sculptor, but a photographer, painter, and the Creative Director of Condé Nast Publications for decades. In an interview Liberman stated that he believed works of art were like screams, and he identified with screams.
Another eye catching work is Endless Column by Tal Streeter, dating back to 1968. This dramatic red zigzag keeps the observer’s eyes pointed upwards.
A temporary exhibit by Rashid Johnson entitled The Crisis will be on display until November 8. Originally slated to be displayed last year, it was delayed due to Covid.
Another view of the stunning scenery, it is hard to represent the actual scale of these works in a photograph, best to visit in person.
As we left we spied Henry Moore’s Reclining Connected Forms, 1969 which depicts the relationship between Mother and Child.
As you might imagine, we had worked up a hearty appetite following all of our walking and art appreciation. We headed off to nearby Blooming Hill Farm to have a true farm to table meal. Lunch is offered Friday – Sunday, and dinner Wednesday – Sunday. Reservations are a must for lunch on the weekends. You can book through Resy.
Blooming Hill Farm was such a terrific find! It is just perfect in every last detail. The restaurant itself was open and sunny, and there was additional seating outside. The staff was masked, and the menu could be accessed through a QR code.
We had gotten a little preview of the offerings before we arrived, and my husband was dreaming about the Cacio e Pepe pizza, combining two of his favorite foods.
The Pizza was as good as he had hoped.
I went the beet salad with feta route. The lettuce was just picked, and the other ingredients were at the peak of freshness, delectable!
After lunch we wandered over to the Farm Stand on property, which appeared as though it was styled by an editor from Vogue. It was the quintessential spot, and the offerings were hard to resist.
Truth!
We loaded up our goodies and decided to make one more pit stop before we headed back to Connecticut. We had head about the Craft Beers brewed at Tin Barn Brewing, and so we decided to pay them a visit.
While the canning process was not in action when we arrived, it did look very impressive.
There is a cult following of Tin Barn’s brews, and we could see why. The brewer is a woman, and there seems to be a whimsical bent to the offerings.
There is ample outdoor seating, and a full schedule of musical performances on tap for the summer. Definitely worth a detour.
We were three for three on this memorable outing. We have been making Day Trips more frequently since we are back East, and have really been enjoying them. This itinerary was a winner, and I would highly recommend it!