Storm King Art Center

Stan4dSteph · 10-01-2006, 09:01 PM

I visited the Storm King Art Center today. It was great. Despite fears that it would pour down rain all afternoon, the weather cleared up after our picnic lunch and we had a wonderful fall day. The sun even came out from behind the clouds to add some drama to the metal.

My favorite was the Mark Di Suvero you could hit with a rubber mallet to make it resonate.

Here are some pictures.

Not Afraid · 10-02-2006, 08:32 AM

Great pics! I love that the leaves are turning as well. Looks like a beautiful day! Some day we'll get there.

Stan4dSteph · 10-06-2006, 09:19 AM

Here's a slightly more extensive trip report:

Took a trip to the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY on Sunday as part of a Stanford alumni trip. I thought the day might be a wash out, since as I was leaving Albany the rain was beating down in torrents. It was one of those episodes that makes you seriously consider utilizing the "Parking Area" to try and wait it out. Fortunately, the worst of it was moving northeast, in the opposite direction of my travel, so by the time I got down to the art center, it was down to a mere drizzle.

I arrived a little early, so I wandered around a bit first, then went up to the pavilion to have a picnic lunch. I met up with my friend Peter, who was on his way back to Ithaca from a business trip. The lunch spread was really extensive, although I shouldn't be too surprised considering it was a Stanford event. Sandwiches, macaroni salad, black bean salad, Terra chips, and desserts, with plenty for everyone to have seconds. I snagged an extra cookie after having my fill. Got to say those Terra sweet potato chips are very yummy.

I met a very interesting woman over lunch who does documentary films and lives in NYC. She joined Peter and me on the tram ride that winds around the grounds. It gave us a good overview of the park, and then we headed to the docent tour. Our docent had some great stories to tell and led us around to some of the pieces closer in to the museum building.

I loved this one sculpture that is stainless steel and also moves with the wind. The sun came out at just the right time to reflect off the burnished surface. I stood underneath it and looked up at the beautiful sky. I got some cool shots of it too.

Another highlight was Andy Goldsworthy's Storm King Wall. The wall winds its way in and out of trees, then down into and out of a pond, extending on up and over the opposing hill. It's really something to see how an object as ordinary as a wall can become such a thing of beauty, the way something manmade interacts with nature. As we were walking along the wall, it started to rain again; the raindrops hitting the calm surface created circles on the pond.

I also enjoyed Mark di Suvero's Beethoven's Quartet, mainly because we could hit it with a rubber mallet to make it resonate. Boy did it resonate! I felt like a kid with a new toy.

Storm King is a great place to hang out and just enjoy art coexisting with nature. There is tons of open space to spread out and lie down if you want to have a picnic or just watch the clouds go by. I can imagine there are highlights in all seasons, but it was really nice to see the changing fall leaves as a backdrop to the sculptures.

10-01-2006, 09:01 PM	#1
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Storm King Art Center I visited the Storm King Art Center today. It was great. Despite fears that it would pour down rain all afternoon, the weather cleared up after our picnic lunch and we had a wonderful fall day. The sun even came out from behind the clouds to add some drama to the metal. My favorite was the Mark Di Suvero you could hit with a rubber mallet to make it resonate. Here are some pictures.
	Submit to Quotes

10-02-2006, 08:32 AM	#2
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Great pics! I love that the leaves are turning as well. Looks like a beautiful day! Some day we'll get there.
	Submit to Quotes

10-06-2006, 09:19 AM	#3
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Here's a slightly more extensive trip report: Took a trip to the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY on Sunday as part of a Stanford alumni trip. I thought the day might be a wash out, since as I was leaving Albany the rain was beating down in torrents. It was one of those episodes that makes you seriously consider utilizing the "Parking Area" to try and wait it out. Fortunately, the worst of it was moving northeast, in the opposite direction of my travel, so by the time I got down to the art center, it was down to a mere drizzle. I arrived a little early, so I wandered around a bit first, then went up to the pavilion to have a picnic lunch. I met up with my friend Peter, who was on his way back to Ithaca from a business trip. The lunch spread was really extensive, although I shouldn't be too surprised considering it was a Stanford event. Sandwiches, macaroni salad, black bean salad, Terra chips, and desserts, with plenty for everyone to have seconds. I snagged an extra cookie after having my fill. Got to say those Terra sweet potato chips are very yummy. I met a very interesting woman over lunch who does documentary films and lives in NYC. She joined Peter and me on the tram ride that winds around the grounds. It gave us a good overview of the park, and then we headed to the docent tour. Our docent had some great stories to tell and led us around to some of the pieces closer in to the museum building. I loved this one sculpture that is stainless steel and also moves with the wind. The sun came out at just the right time to reflect off the burnished surface. I stood underneath it and looked up at the beautiful sky. I got some cool shots of it too. Another highlight was Andy Goldsworthy's Storm King Wall. The wall winds its way in and out of trees, then down into and out of a pond, extending on up and over the opposing hill. It's really something to see how an object as ordinary as a wall can become such a thing of beauty, the way something manmade interacts with nature. As we were walking along the wall, it started to rain again; the raindrops hitting the calm surface created circles on the pond. I also enjoyed Mark di Suvero's Beethoven's Quartet, mainly because we could hit it with a rubber mallet to make it resonate. Boy did it resonate! I felt like a kid with a new toy. Storm King is a great place to hang out and just enjoy art coexisting with nature. There is tons of open space to spread out and lie down if you want to have a picnic or just watch the clouds go by. I can imagine there are highlights in all seasons, but it was really nice to see the changing fall leaves as a backdrop to the sculptures.
	Submit to Quotes