Today we all know how important great design is to our everyday life. Not so much the case some generations ago.  But visionaries like Russel Wright did know. A forerunner of what many of us take almost completely for granted, as we handle our beautiful iPhone.  Wright believed that “good design was for everyone.”  He embraced and forwarded the empirical axiom that art is not just a part of life. Art is life!

There are few places where this consciousness is more discernible than here at Russel Wright’s former home and design center, Montioga. A place of striking yet gracious beauty, a place where art, nature, and human habitation reside in utter invigorating harmony.

Today exciting initiatives to share the magnificence of this place are underway, one such program is the  2015 Artists in Residency Exhibition, ” a celebration of Russel Wright’s legacy of creative experimentation and celebration of place. Continue reading A Visit to Manitoga for the 2015 Artists in Residency Exhibition

Cocktails on the River

So many invites this Saturday night, luckily they were spread out so we could enjoy them all.

The first was Riverside Art Auction at Garrison Art Center, where the devotees of the center turned out in numbers, young and old all walks of life, all lovers of art. As were those at the Manitoga event, to celebrate the opening of the 2015 Artist in Residence works of Stephen Talasnik. And then another gathering of art lovers at The Pantry Cold Spring for an evening of  music by Tall Country. Three very different events with one common denominator, a love of the Hudson Valley and art. Continue reading What an Evening of Entertainment and Celebration!

We loved experiencing these young artists’ work

on display in the Garrison Art Center School Invitational Theme and Mentor Exhibition. The work is inspiring, uplifting. We were fortunate to catch the last day of the show.

Continue reading Inspiring Young Artists’ Work Exhibited at the Garrison Art Center

Tonight we celebrate the Joy of Spring, Nowruz, with very good friends

A festivity of the joy of spring. Nowruz (Persian: نوروز‎, “[The] New Day”) it is at least 3,000 years old. The first day of the Persian calendar, this year the holiday began on March 21st and lasts for 12 days.  This date makes so much more sense to me than January 1st. For me life begins with spring.

It is a secular holiday, yet Nowruz is deeply rooted in the rituals of the Zoroastrian religion.  It is celebrated and embraces the unique cultures of Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikestan, Pakistan and parts of India and among the Kurds. And all over the world by people of these wonderful lands. We will be celebrating in Montclair in NJ.

The photo “Tajik girls celebrate Nowruz  in Dushanbe, Tajikestan” is from the website of Dr. Kaveh Farrokh who is dedicated to the Advancement of Ancient Iranian and Classical Studies. Continue reading Happy Persian New Year 2015

Garrison Institute is one of the Hudson Valley’s real gems.

An  Evening of Kirtan at Garrison Institute with Krishna Das.

An organization devoted to world change through Contemplation, Action, Transformation. This weekend the “Rock Star” of  Yoga, Krishna Das, is conducting Heart of Devotion Retreat, a weekend of yoga, chanting and devotional heart-opening practices.

On Friday and Saturday evening there are Kirtan concerts open to the public, we are attending both nights.  More Information Here

 What is Kirtan you wonder?  Continue reading Lift Your Heart at Garrison Institute