Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King…
“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.” John Lubbock, Sr
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Zhang Huan, Three Legged Buddha, 2007
Zhang Huan, Three Legged Buddha, 2007
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Louise Nevelson... City On the High Mountain 1983
Louise Nevelson … City On the High Mountain 1983
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Henry Moore, Reclining Connected Forms 1969
Henry Moore, Reclining Connected Forms 1969
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Alexander Calder, Knobs & Gui Mistletoe, 1976
Alexander Calder, Knobs & Gui Mistletoe, 1976
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Chakaia Booker, A Moment in Time 2004
Chakaia Booker, A Moment in Time 2004
I’ve always loved art; particularly what is often referred to as installation art – huge three dimensional pieces that sit indoors as interior installations or outdoors as land art. I’ve showcased a few highly regarded installation artists on this blog; Yinka Shonibare MBE, Choi Jeong Hwa, and Do-Ho Suh and, today, I paid a return visit to the Storm King Art Center to photograph and share some of their beautiful art installations with everyone.
“Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which Nature herself is animated.” Auguste Rodin
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Ursula von Rydingsvard, LUBA 2009-10
Ursula von Rydingsvard, LUBA 2009-10
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Alexander Calder, Five Swords 1976
Alexander Calder, Five Swords 1976
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Emilio Greco, The Tall Bather, 1956
Emilio Greco, The Tall Bather, 1956
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Alexander Calder, Black Flag 1974
Alexander Calder, Black Flag 1974
Part of the beauty of Storm King Art Center is its expansive and majestic 500 acres located in the Bear Mountain area of New York. It is about one hour north of New York City, in New Windsor, in the Hudson Valley region. When my twins were younger, we used to take trips up there and let them run around the undulating hills and play amongst the art installations. Those were fun days and we would chill out and enjoy the art. Life got busy and I hadn’t been back. Today was sweet and a time to walk around, see the new stuff and revisit old friends; Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Chakaia Booker, Mark di Suvero, Alexander Lieberman and Louise Nevelson. I did see the new 5+5: New Perspectives.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Chakaia Booker Foci 2010
Chakaia Booker, Foci 2010
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Mark di Suvero Beethoven's Quartet 2003
Mark di Suvero, Beethoven’s Quartet 2003
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King… Alexander Liberman, Iliad ...
Alexander Liberman, Iliad 1974-76
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King... Maya Lin, Wavefield 2007-08
Maya Lin, Wavefield 2007-08
There are many displays and ways to get around that makes the location accessible for the young and the aged. I walked around for almost 1 1/2 hours, and then took a trolley ride for 30 minutes which gave me a new perspective on the artwork. There was a flutist playing classical music for an hour and it was not crowded. I took time to wander around, even got a decent workout while enjoying a gentle breeze walking around the installations. I photographed many pieces and I hope you enjoy the collection I shared here.
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.” Andre Gide
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King… Alexander Lieberman, Adonai
Alexander Lieberman, Adonai 1970-71
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King… John BisBee, Squall, 2010
John BisBee, Squall, 2010
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King… Josef Pillhofer, Reclining Man 1964
Josef Pillhofer, Reclining Man 1964
Happiness: Installation Art At Storm King… Darrell Petit, The Kiss
Darrell Petit, The Kiss 1999
If you need a relaxing day out in the countryside, and you’d like art included, a cafe to sit and have a simple snack and drink, a place where the kids can play freely without worries, then Storm King is a great getaway. You could picnic too; just bring the bug spray to keep the pesky buggers away. The hours are set till November 5, 2011/10 am to 5:30 pm, Wednesday-Sunday, and November 6 – November 13, 2011/10 am to 5 pm, Wednesday-Sunday. The fees are reasonable; Adults $12, Senior Citizens (65 and older) $10, College Students (with valid id) $8, Students (K-12) $8, Children under 5 Free and Members Free.
What are your thoughts? What type of art appeals to you? Do you make time to enjoy other creative outlets? Do share? Thank you! 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Write a review of a movie you recently saw or a product you recently used. It could be something new, or something you’ve known about for some time. Describe why you’d recommend it or not. On a positive note, TeachStreet, an online community for people who love to learn, is featuring some of my self-improvement posts. Check them out.
Positive Motivation Tip: Take time to revisit familiar creative haunts and refresh yourself.
Related articles
- Umbrellas… (paulinamallard.wordpress.com)
- Art Installation at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Honors Historical Ambassador Hotel while Inspiring Student Creativity (prweb.com)
- Eyecatchers: Igor Mitoraj (fishandbicycles.com)
- Field Trip: deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum (abh21.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I could imagine my kids exploring every nook and cranny.
thanks Eliz for taking the time to post these.
Thank you Hakea, It brought back memories of my kids visiting years ago… Now they are in college. Time does fly. 🙂
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso
Isn’t that a beautiful quote…? I loved it too. 🙂
and my favorite sculpture:
Darrell Petit, The Kiss
You like it too? I liked the simplicity of the sculpture… It could easily be overlooked until we see the form behind the hulk… TY! 🙂
looks alike the kiss of two whales.
😆 Now that is a funny visual… the kiss of two great stone whales… Very provocative… love it. 🙂
What an amazing place to visit. I love art. Although I don’t know much about artists and such. But really I think nature is the greatest artist of them all. I mean, what a wonderful piece of art we all get to be a part of every day. 🙂
Yes, indeed nature is the most original art and probably the truly complex art we get to enjoy for free… Storm King places its installations within the framework of a natural setting so the art compliments the landscape without competing against it…
The juxtaposition of huge pieces against a mountain, hilly backdrop works quite brilliantly and it seems to all fit without being jarring… I love the atheistic there. TY for enjoying the virtual visit. 🙂
Eliz
I’d never heard about Storm King. I’ll definitely put it on my list of places to see during the fall, always a beautiful time when the leaves are changing.
I love art, especially public art because it so accessible. You can interact with it in a way you rarely can in a gallery or a museum. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to be walking in the city and come upon a piece of public art. It’s very soothing. I’m familiar with Calder, Booker, Lin, Nevelson and Shonibare. Thanks for introducing the others. Emilio Greco recalls Rodin.
I’m glad you enjoyed this visit then… The Storm King Art Center is a beauty tucked away in the NY Hudson Valley and easy to drive to. If you have time before they close for the winter season, do visit and hang out and relax… I love that it offers a way to exercise, reflect, walk, eat, and spend some quiet time while enjoying art… You’d love it. TY! 🙂
What an incredible post Elizabeth, I love it. The thoughts on what makes our connection to art were so enriching and motivating. I too have a love for installations, and have had the opportunity to create one or two. But these pieces are magnificient in scope and design.
Thanks for sharing the information about Storm King.
TY Walter and glad to see you back… I love these huge pieces too because they get me thinking of the way they were created and the creative effort that went into making them… Do you have pictures of yours? I’d love to look at them. TY! 🙂
We have a similar place in Chicago called sculpture park, but it’s not on as beautiful as landscape as storm king. It looks like a lot of fun and thanks for sharing the location. I had never heard of this place before.
Oh wow BB, Good to see you again… It would be a fun place for you to visit and run around… Lots of hills and trees and art everywhere and yet, it is a very relaxing environment to sit and just chill if you choose. I’m glad to share it with you… perhaps a trip will be forthcoming. TY! 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful time ~ then and now. 😀
Yes I did Nancy, and without kids in tow, I paced myself well and got a rigorous workout and a full day of beauty and art…
I won’t complain about the drive there by Woodbury Commons which was jam-packed with shoppers … It all worked out. 🙂
There are some really amazing sculptures here.
Thank you Peter!
You know, I didn’t upload all the shots so I might be using some in future posts too. It truly is a wonderful place to visit. TY! 🙂
I also love the Picasso quote “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”…and your photos capture just that.
TY Angeline! I like that Picasso quote too… It does wash away our daily worries and gives us something else to enjoy. TY 🙂
just amazing!
TY Barb! I knew you’d like it… 🙂
Art, be it Visual, music, writing, performance, gives insight into someone else’s mind and world. It doesn’t matter whether we “like it” or not, or whether we think we can “easily” do something similar (or not). Just opening our minds to other perspectives and perceptions will lead to insights about ourselves, how we think and feel and act and why, about who we are and our positions.
Very good article, and wonderful photos! I think you’ve chosen perfect perspectives, which requires a special artistic eye as well 🙂 My favourite photo is Knobs & Gui Mistletoe; you make the people part of the installation – or the installation part of the people’s world.
Thank you Maria for your insights too! I took individual photos of the two pink pieces; Knobs and Gui, but liked the picture of both with people mingling amongst them and that won out… Glad you like it. 🙂
Just to let you know that I mentioned you in my blog today.
TY Cecelia! I will visit and comment on the post… I appreciate the support always… Hope the move is coming together for you. 🙂
Well, I liked some of it, I suppose… 🙂
Good thing then Tilly!
It has and offers so much that there is always something that calls your attention, catches your eye… and then there is the natural landscape which is beautiful with the bear mountains as a backdrop. TY! 🙂
Eliz–thanks for introducing Storm King to me. I think it would make a great long weekend for us here in South Jersey. I would love to have a piece of installation art in my yard–will put that on my wish list. We have similar gardens close to us–Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton–but the pieces are smaller but still great.
TY Terri! That would be lovely to do… and if one finds the perfect piece that compliments your garden, it would be great… Plus, you could actually make your own installation piece… wouldn’t that be so cool? 🙂
My favorites are the three legged Buddha and “The Kiss”.
Wandering through all of those giant art pieces must have been great fun!
Thank you as always for your ever-detailed, ever interesting posts!
Thank you Carlaat for your feedback. Those two are newer pieces to the selections and I was thrilled to see them for the first time too. The three legged Buddha is an amazing piece up close. The face is quite serene and the structure quite huge. I loved it and the simplicity of The Kiss. 🙂
Too bad I live in Nevada. I would love to visit Storm King with my kids. I will have to search the area for somewhere to be inspired like that.
I bet you’ll find something in your area… lots of open space there. Add this to your next trip in NY and the kids might join you too…TY! 🙂
Very cool art work! 🙂
TY Sharon! It is truly special. 🙂
I have to say this is unique art forms. I am glad you shared them Eliz>ty xoxoxo
TY Jackie, I’m glad you like the pieces… It was a fun and relaxing visit for me. 🙂
Wow! Those Art pieces are just amazing. No words how beautiful they are. Happiness came today in the form of art works and through the wonderful words of a talented writer. Thanks for sharing.
TY for stopping in and enjoying the selections… I know your son and family would love this adventure… If you ever come to NY, give me a holler and I’d happily take all of you up there as I know your son would have a blast at Storm King Art Center. 🙂
Terrific selection of sculptures, E. Miss O 1 is doing Sculpture and Ceramics at school and loves it, so she enjoyed these photos very much too.
TY Robyn, I’m glad she has found them useful… I had a fun time taking the pictures and walking around… I definitely needed the exercise… 🙂