Museums off the Beaten Path

These hidden gems are sure to delight whenever you feel like getting “lost” for the day.

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Meaning “warehouse” in Italian, Magazzino opened its doors in 2017. The 20,000-square-foot museum, designed by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo, is dedicated to postwar and contemporary Italian art. Admission is free to the public. (Javier Callejas, Magazzino Italian Art)

Nearly my entire perspective is informed by my life experiences. While “life is a gift” is entirely too cliche for my taste, there is some truth to the fact that we are not promised anything, not even tomorrow, so why squander it? That is, however, my mantra and I think about it every day. What exactly does that mean? To me, there is meaning in every action, an experience to enjoy, learn from, not repeat, share, and embrace. Most of us are fortunate to have choices and to be stakeholders in our own destiny. Break that down into each day. What is the lens that we are looking through? I think the more experiential our daily life is, the more it matters, and through that our curiosity is fed and grows.

As the daughter of an art teacher, I was steeped in a tapestry of design, culture, exploration, and travel. For a long time, I didn’t think I appreciated it (nor did my mom).  I took it for granted. Often I preferred to stay in the neighborhood and hang around with my friends rather than hop on a train to New York to spend an afternoon at the Met. I often told my mom, “I’m not interested in art.”  Fast forward to adulthood: what I didn’t understand is that it wasn’t about being interested, it was about being immersed. All of that exposure is now part of every fiber of my being and influences everything; how I dress, decorate, entertain, communicate, relate, and raise my kids.

I was so wrong. It is not about appreciating one artist, one piece, or even a particular perspective. It is about how I look at my life, my work, my relationships, my goals, and hope for not just my, but everyone’s, future. I can connect the dots every day between what I’ve seen and done and how it makes everything more meaningful and beautiful. It has also helped me to relate to my mom through the seasons of our relationship. She is well known for her frankness, her admittedly limited maternal instincts, endless curiosity, and eternal optimism. This description, I know, will make her smile. Art is her north star; it nourishes her (those who know her also know that real food is an afterthought to her) and keeps her connected.

When my family settled in the Hudson Valley region, my mom returned to her roots in the Midwest. It was my mom who sent us clippings — yes, she’s also a legendary technophobe — about regional exhibits, gallery openings, and cultural events in the area since I think she thought that without her influence, and us not being so close to the city, we would cease to evolve. Fortunately, I try to keep my finger on the pulse of what is happening and am never disappointed. My list of places to go, fed by my creative and curious friends and the ones I discover myself, never shrinks no matter how many I check off. Ironically, each of the three museums discussed below was truly discovered on a detour along the way to a different destination, and I’m glad we stopped for the experiences.

Magazzino Italian Art

(Photo: Marco Anelli, Magazzino Italian Art)

This. I was admittedly surprised to discover Magazzino Italian Art, practically in my backyard. I  stumbled upon this gem while planning to experience this year’s Upstate Art Weekend. (Which, by the way, is a serious don’t miss and something I’ll write about more than once). The museum, which opened in 2017, features contemporary Italian art and serves as a research center and library, an incubator for students immersed in the study of Italian art practices from the post-war period to the present. The museum maintains a permanent exhibit of the Arte Povera movement; an explorative artistic movement from the 1960s through the 1980s utilizing unique materials, including found objects, to radicalize the traditional art establishment in Italy. Devotees of contemporary architecture will appreciate the space, designed by Miguel Quismondo. The 20,000 square foot museum is accessible by car, and Magazzino provides a shuttle bus for those arriving by train at the Cold Spring station, and while reservations are required, admission is free.

Magazzino Italian Art
2700 US Route 9
Cold Spring
www.magazzino.art

Manitoga

(Photo: Vivian Linares)

A long-time favorite of mine, Manitoga was the home of Russel Wright, an American industrial designer, well known for his contemporary design aesthetic of integrating natural balance and harmony into living. In addition to the stunning 75-acre site featuring Dragon Rock House, his design studio, gardens, and trails, one can experience the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery.  There are over 200 pieces in this permanent collection which also provides insight into the creative process behind some of Wright’s most iconic dinnerware and furniture. I was hooked when I first discovered an original Wright pitcher at an estate sale at a Frank Lloyd Wright home. The style, function, and color of the American Modern Pitcher are like nothing else. A visit to Manitoga requires a reservation, but the Woodland Trails are open every day for a suggested $5 donation and are a great way to experience the natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands and get that intimate lens into what Wright saw and felt when he used Manitoga as his muse. There are 6 tours available; in the fall I recommend the Sunset Tour and without question, the Collector’s Tour, even if it is just for the aspiring collector like me; you’ll surely swoon.

Manitoga
584 Route 9D
Garrison
www.visitmanitoga.org

Womenswork.Art

If you haven’t been to downtown Poughkeepsie recently, you should check it out. One of the many treasures to discover is Womenswork.Art. It is part of the broader Poughkeepsie Arts Community but has a solid vibe all its own.  Part of the mission of Womenswwork.Art pretty much sums up the gallery; “lifting up emerging and mid-career Women Artists and Curators…”.

There is a broad spectrum of women reflected in the current mixed-media exhibitions and one can get a taste of the gallery’s aesthetic from looking at the archived exhibits. There are regular Calls for Entries for 4- or 8-week exhibits so the space is constantly being reinvented creatively. Mark your calendars; Spirit of the Season: A Small Works Holiday Show will kick off at the gallery on Saturday, December 4th from 2-6 pm, and the show and sale will run from December 3-19. This is a perfect opportunity to support living women artists and join in the city of Poughkeepsie’s seasonal festivities.     

Womenswork.Art
4 South Clinton Street
Poughkeepsie
www.womenswork.art   

Hudson River Museum

The Hudson River Museum has been a favorite of mine forever. Growing up in Dobbs Ferry, it felt as if it were right down the street. Having an art teacher for a mom, we were early adaptors of every program available at this local gem. I can clearly remember taking a pastel class and sketching Glenview, the mansion where the Museum moved to in 1924 while enjoying the stunning Hudson River views. HRM, to me, has it all;  nature, drama, arts, the Amphitheater, and the recently renovated Andrus Planetarium, the only publicly accessible planetarium in Westchester. A visit can include a period tour of Glenview, viewing up to 20 million stars, studying the Hudson River ecosystem, the latest edgy contemporary art exhibit, and a leisurely stroll around the grounds to appreciate the changing seasons along the Palisades.

Hudson River Museum
511 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers
www.hrm.org

Born and raised in Westchester, Nancy Sorbella’s lifestyle stories have been featured in several local and regional publications where she has also been a style and community columnist. She is the resident wordsmith for the Arthritis Foundation of NY and the Community Engagement Director by day, spending her free time exploring and experiencing the Hudson Valley. Follow Nancy for more of her adventures on Instagram @DetoursColumnist, Twitter @jsorbella, or on Facebook at Nancy Niskin Sorbella.

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