Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Storm King Art Center

I spent about two hours last Sunday at Storm King Art Center. Immediately I knew the visit would be about 364 days and 22 hours too short. It was the most idyllic Fall day and stepping out onto the five hundred acres of lawns, woods, sculpture, and sunlight was...perfect.

With its rolling hills and large expanses it was easy to forget that anything of the outside world existed at all. I know the lawns must be painstakingly groomed but the landscaping is designed to feel just slightly nudged by man. Its calm and reclusive atmosphere magnified every interaction between the art and nature -- birds flying around the sculpture, wind in the trees scattering sunlight across man made forms, the smell and textures of various grasses under your feet -- this collaboration of so many senses and ever changing conditions becomes the work of art rather than the individual pieces.

If there was a star of the day, it was the sunlight. We stood at Andy Goldsworthy's "Wall" for ages with each passing minute altering the experience as the light changed. This was my first trip and we only had time for a fraction of the collection -- I'm eager to see the place in its entirety and in every weather condition.

5 comments:

ces said...

What a BEAUTIFUL fall day! it just doesn't get any more beautiful than Nature changing Her Clothes!

Anonymous said...

You were (sort of) in the neighborhood, you should have stopped by!

Corina St. Martin said...

That sounds awesome, I'd love to go there. Fresh air, sunlight, blue sky and art. Can't get much better than that.

Lana Gramlich said...

What a lovely looking place. I want to picnic there!

Irene Gallo said...

Tristan - I didn;t realize we'd be so close until I started seeing the road signs. We'll be back and give you a call next time. If I were you, I;d live in that park.