This month, Storm King Art Center reopened its 500-acre outdoor grounds to the public for the first time since the pandemic started. And if you're looking for a place to safely get away from the city for an afternoon, you couldn't think of a much better location than this one.
"Storm King was already built for social distancing before that was a thing, and now it's doubled down on the idea," said photographer Sai Mokhtari, who visited the grounds last weekend. "They have hand sanitizer installed at all of the signs around the parking lot and at the bus stop." She added, "It was super hot and humid, but gorgeous and moody as ever. Maybe even more so in light of...everything."
There are two new special outdoor exhibits on display at the center in the Hudson Valley: Kiki Smith River Light, which marks the first U.S. presentation of Smith’s flags, which represent a recent element within the artist’s wide-ranging production. And Outlooks: Martha Tuttle, which consists of a series of human-made stone stacks or cairns, built of boulders gathered at Storm King, carved marble rocks, and molded glass stones, which the artist created during the winter and spring of 2020.
In addition, there are presentations of Mark di Suvero’s E=MC2 (1996-97) and Louise Bourgeois’ Eyes (2001). You can see photos from all four exhibits in the gallery up above.
As with most cultural centers and museums, there were plenty of new safety guidelines in place. It's only open to visitors form 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Visitors have to book tickets online for a timed entry in advance, and only a third of the center's total occupancy can go at any one time. While there's no limit to how long you can stay, you must arrive within the window of time on your ticket. In addition, people must maintain social distancing; they must also wear a face covering whenever they can't maintain distance from other people, "such as in the elevator, restrooms, or along the narrow pathways, such as the Moodna Creek Trail."
No indoor spaces, except restroom facilities, will be available to the public; The Museum Store and Outdoor Café will remain temporarily closed, and the tram and bike rental will not be available in the first stage of opening. Get more info here.
