Armonk Outdoor Art Show to Transform Hamlet into Artist’s Haven
For at least 360 days each year, Armonk’s Community Field on Business Park Drive is what you would expect the site to look like, a place that hosts local recreational activities.
Toward the end of this week, a legion of some 300 volunteers will transform the grounds into a sprawling pop-up artist’s village and home to one of the most successful art shows in the United States.
The 57th annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show returns this weekend, one of the most highly anticipated events each year in town. It has always been a favorite destination for Westchester art lovers and those throughout the metropolitan area but it continues to grow in stature.
“I think the show keeps getting better because it’s all about the art, obviously, and it consistently attracts many good artists, and on top of the art, each year we’ve tried to expand it in different ways,” said Anne Curran, the event’s executive director.
This Saturday and Sunday, 185 juried artists from 28 states around the country, Canada and Israel representing virtually every type of artistic medium will be part of the show. They were selected from more than 600 applicants who hoped to gain entry – and with good reason.
While always popular, earlier this month the Armonk Outdoor Art Show was ranked the second-best fine art and design show in the United States by Sunshine Artist magazine. The ranking was based on artists’ sales.
But organizers aren’t resting on their laurels. Curran said every year there are new enhancements for the serious art patron and for families, and that’s the case again this year. Hands-on activities for all ages will include collage making, silk scarf dyeing and a photo studio.
One of the new sponsors, The Harvey School, will present interactive programs for children five to 12 years old and the Katonah Museum of Art, Neuberger Museum of Art, the Rye Arts Center and Clay Arts Center will collaborate on art activities.
Last year, the show welcomed Luke’s Lobsters as one of the food vendors. They will return and will be joined by Pleasantville’s Taylored Menus, which is doing a barbecue grill, Curran said. Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. will be on hand with craft beer and wines and Armonk’s Fortina will offer Italian food.
Armonk native Saul Rivers will provide the musical entertainment from 1 to 3 p.m. during both days.
“It will be a very fun and a very art-enriched atmosphere for families,” Curran said.
The impact of the show goes well beyond the art community. Proceeds from the show, the work of the Friends of the North Castle Public Library, will benefit programs at the facility. If the weather cooperates, more than $100,000 will likely be raised for the library, said Barbara Vircillo, president of the Friends. During the past five years it has contributed nearly $700,000 toward programming and the local theater group The Armonk Players, she said.
North Castle Councilman Jose Berra said the money is important but so, too, is how the show enhances the town’s reputation.
“It really is one of the incredible things we have going on in this town,” he said. “It makes us a draw for other parts of the county, down in the city.”
Curran said without the efforts of the volunteers the show would be virtually impossible to pull off.
“It’s really great when we get new residents, or newer, younger residents, who are just getting acquainted with the show but their offer to volunteer in some way, that’s very, very helpful to us because we’re 99 percent dependent on volunteers,” Curran said.
The show is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Community Field, located at 205 Business Park Drive. It will be held rain or shine. Admission is $12 or $10 for seniors or those with a discount coupon. Children under 18 are admitted for free.
For more information and to obtain the discount coupon, visit www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
