As we settle into summer living with the pandemic, we’re all looking for safe ways to get out of the house and see and experience something new. With just a short drive over the New Jersey-New York state line to New Windsor, you and the kids can take in a combo of thoughtful sculptures and flourishing nature offered by Storm King Art Center, a sprawling a 500-acre outdoor museum that offers lots of open space to walk, run and easily spread out.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that with the exception of the New York City region, the state has entered Phase Four of its reopening process. This phase allows for outdoor museums, grounds of historical sites, botanical gardens and other similar outdoor locations to open their doors to the public.
After a soft-opening for members and front-line healthcare workers, Storm King will be open to the public on Wednesday, July 15th. Tickets are required and can be purchased online on the art center’s website. Adhering to all New York state guidelines, Storm King has updated its visitor policies for the safety of all visitors. Once they arrive, all guests will be directed to the contactless ticket processing area where tickets will be checked through your car window. Visitors can walk all 500 acres of the property until closing time, but are asked to remain 6 feet feet apart from staff and visitors not in your party. If physical distancing is not possible, such as in the elevators or when using the restroom, guests must wear a face-covering.
In addition to being in a gorgeous outdoor space, Storm King Art Center offers modern and contemporary art “focusing on large-scale sculpture sited in the Art Center’s expansive landscape, to create a dynamic and unique place to explore art in nature.” The center’s commitment to nurturing a relationship between artists, visitors and nature makes for an amazing day for visitors of all ages. It is hands down one of our favorite places to visit.
When it opens, Storm King will be displaying two new installations. Kiki Smith’s “River Light” is her first venture into flags, designed to mimic the movements of river waters, and will be on view until November 9. Storm King will also be displaying work from New York artist Martha Tuttle as part of its Outlooks program. In its eighth year, Outlooks serves to provide an emerging mid-career artist with the opportunity to create a large-scale, temporary outdoor project. Martha Tuttle’s work will also be on display until November 9.
For the time being, the following amenities will be closed at Storm King: The Museum Building — including the Visitor Center, indoor galleries and Museum Store; Storm King’s Outdoor Cafe, Cafe Cart and Food Truck; tram service; and bike rentals.
If you visit Storm King this summer let us know your thoughts in the comments below!