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Storm King Art Center Guide to Visiting featuring Suspended by Menashe Kadishman
Guide to Visiting Storm King Art Center & 'Suspended' by Maneshe Kadishman

Storm King Art Center Guide – Perfect Outdoor Day Trip from NYC

A visit to Storm King Art Center is the perfect socially-distanced outing! Located on 500-acres in New York’s Hudson Valley, Storm King is home to large-scale works of modern and contemporary art. Situated among rolling hills, wooden pathways and open fields you will find dozens of sculptures both complementing and contrasting the natural surroundings. Whether you’re a contemporary art aficionado or just in need of an outdoor adventure after months of quarantine, I highly recommend visiting Storm King!

Mark di Suvero Mother Peace Sculpture behind yellow flowers at Storm King Guide
Storm King Art Center Guide - Mark di Suvero's Mother Peace with yellow flowers in the foreground

What to Expect On Your Visit To Storm King

A visit to Storm King means having the opportunity to appreciate art while also being out in the fresh air. The unique experience of Storm King’s outdoor gallery means you are able to take in the sculptures from many different perspectives. As you walk around (and in some cases through!) each piece you will see complexities of the artist’s work.

The Arch by Alexander Calder at Storm King in the Summer
The Arch by Alexander Calder at Storm King in the Summer

A free online audio guide is available so you can learn more about the composition, materials, artist and inspiration behind the pieces in Storm King's outdoor gallery. It is easy to access on your cell phone.

The grounds are divided into 4 sections (North Woods, Museum Hill, Meadows & South Fields), each defined by their landscaping. Artists from around the world are showcased throughout the grounds in both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Credit: Storm King Art Center

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Our Favorite Pieces

Storm King can be an opportunity for alone time and introspection, a unique date idea or a fun day out with family and friends! I was invited by a dear friend Jenna, and it was the perfect socially distanced outing! Here are a few of our favorite pieces from Storm King’s collection. 

Gazebo for Two Anarchists Siah Armajani Storm King Art Center Guide
Gazebo for Two Anarchists by Siah Armajani at Storm King Art Center

Playing Tour Guide: Our favorite activity was to take turns being the tour guide. As we approached each new structure, the 'tour guide' would first share our own off-the-cuff explanation of the work. Next, we would listen to the official audio guide tour to learn the real context behind each piece. We definitely came up with some creative interpretations! Playing tour guide is also a great activity with kids!

Adam, 1970 - Alexander Liberman

One of 3 of Liberman’s pieces at Storm King, Adam is made of steel and stands atop a tall hill overlooking a grassy valley below. Liberman’s construction method was unique and involved multiple steps. A crane operator placed the elements of the structure, and he welded them together temporarily. Also a photographer, Liberman then took photos, cut out the pieces and experimented with different placements before deciding on the final structure for the sculpture. 

Adam, 1970 - Alexander Liberman​ a large sculpture at Storm King Art Center
Adam, 1970 - Alexander Liberman​

What do you see when you look at this sculpture?

(Hover to see Jenna's interpretation!)

Jenna's Creative Interpretation:

Jenna's first impression was a broken lipstick! We called it a statement against the mainstream vision of feminine beauty.

Three-Fold Manifestation II, 1987 (refabricated 2006) - Alice Aycock

Three-Fold Manifestation II by Aycock - Visit Storm King Guide
'Three-Fold Manifestation II' by Aycock at Storm King Art Center

Storm King features incredible works by female artists in their permanent and rotating exhibitions. Aycock’s Three-Fold Manifestation II is another one of our favorites. 

In the words of the artist: “I was working a lot with these stepped bowl-like forms; I would take astronomical diagrams and imagine the space that would be generated by these diagrams. These bowls or whirling, skewed spaces are tipped, so it’s as though you’re looking into disoriented worlds….”

Storm King is a lovely place to relax in the grass. Bring a picnic or even a book with you for your visit to Storm King! 

Relaxing on the Grass at Storm King Art Center
Relaxing on the Grass at Storm King Art Center (Photo Credit: Jenna Sharples)

As you explore Storm King do not forget to take in the artwork from different angles. Some pieces seem to morph into completely different shapes as you walk around them! Day Game by David Stoltz looks like a completely different sculpture from these two opposite viewpoints! 

Day Game by David Stoltz - Statue at Visit Storm King Art Center
Day Game by David Stoltz - Statue (Guide to Visit Storm King Art Center)
Day Game by David Stoltz - Statue at Visit Storm King Art Center
From Another Angle - Day Game by David Stoltz

Interested in awesome New York-based museums you can visit (virtually)? Check out this guide to 12 unique museums in NYC offering virtual activities and online gallery access!

Nature path with lush green ferns at Storm King Art Center in the Summer
Wooded Path - Guide to Visit Storm King Art Center

Tips for Visiting Storm King Art Center

  • Wear comfortable shoes – Storm King is mostly outdoors, and you will be doing a lot of walking. 
  • Bring a picnic lunch and plenty of water – There is a whole picnic area where you can lay out a blanket or use the tables and benches for eating. There is an outdoor cafĂ©, but due to COVID-19 it is currently closed. But, you can order a boxed lunch or snacks in advance, including beer or wine! 
  •  Check the weather – Your experience visiting Storm King may be considerably affected by the weather. Most of the grounds are open fields, and so make sure to bring an umbrella, hat and/or sunscreen depending on the day!  
  • Make sure your phone is charged – You’ll want to take photos and listen to the free audio guide through your phone. Since the artwork is outdoors, charging your phone at Storm King will be tricky. 
  • Storm King is only partially accessible for strollers & wheelchairs. There are paved and gravel pathways in some areas, but navigating the wooded sections will be problematic. 

Additional COVID-19 Considerations

As of August, 2020 here are current considerations for visiting Storm King: 

  • Tickets are only being sold in advance online. (Recently days have been selling out.) 
  • The indoor Museum and onsite cafe are closed. 
  • Bicycle rental is temporarily unavailable. 
Zhang Huan's Three Legged Buddha Statue at Storm King
Zhang Huan's Three Legged Buddha Statue at Storm King (Photo Credit: Jenna Sharples)

Tickets & Pricing

On an average year, Storm King sees about 200,000 visitors. Currently, due to COVID-19, tickets are only being sold online in advance.
Admission is charged per person per car. (No additional parking fees.) 

For a single car:
1 person – $20
2 people – $40
3 people – $48
4 people – $68
5 people – $76
6 people – $84

The whole ticketing experience is contactless. You pull up into a large driveway loop, and the Storm King employees will scan your e-ticket through the car window. 

Beautiful natural landsape when you Visit Storm King
Beautiful Storm King Landscape - North Woods meets Museum Hill

Things To Do Around Storm King

Cornwall, NY is a historic town surrounded by natural beauty in the Hudson Valley area. Here are a few recommendations of other places to visit around Storm King Art Center. 

  • Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Outdoor Discovery Center & Hiking: Family-friendly learning center where kids and adults can both learn more about the natural landscape of the Hudson Valley. The museum’s website also has great resources for hiking in the area. 
  • Sands Ring Homestead Museum – Historic homestead from 1760s. Plan a visit to learn more about 18th century life in Cornwall and the historical importance of the area. 
  • Cornwall Main Street – Walk along Main St. to grab a bite to eat, do a little shopping or enjoy a coffee

 

If you're planning spend a bit more time in Cornwall, Orange County Tourism's Guide to 48 Hours in Cornwall is a great resource! 

Historic Postcard showing a farm in Cornwall New York Published by A. Biren 1252 Decatur St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Historic Postcard Depicting the Natural Beauty of Cornwall, NY - Published by A. Biren 1252 Decatur St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Historic Farm Life in Cornwall, NY Depicted in a Vintage Postcard - Visit Storm King
Historic Farm Life in Cornwall, NY Depicted in a Vintage Postcard -

As shown in these vintage postcards, Cornwall has been known for its natural beauty for over a century! Visit Love Cornwall, Love Life to learn more about the history of Cornwall and for more useful information about all the sights around Storm King Art Center!  Their website is a fantastic resource for anyone visiting the area. 

Directions

For driving directions in GPS use:
1 Museum Road
New Windsor NY 12553

Storm King Art Center is located between an hour and 90 minutes from New York City.

For New York Public Transit options, visit the MTA’s website dedicated to transportation options to Storm King.

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13 thoughts on “Storm King Art Center Guide – Perfect Outdoor Day Trip from NYC”

  1. This is such a unique place, I have never been to an outdoor att gallery, let alone seen anything like this. I would definitely love to take your tour and listen to your explanations of these pieces, I agree with the broken lipstick one.

  2. I love the art, especially the piece on the title photo. I had to look twice to see that the smaller part is suspended. And, yes, it is amazing how art work can change if you look at it from a different viewpoint.

  3. Absolutely love outdoor galleries! We recently visited one in Cyprus and it was fascinating! We love playing ‘tour guides’ as such places too – the weirder the art, the more creative the interpretation. Also, ‘Adam’ does look like a broken lipstick, lol!

    1. Smita – So happy to hear that you had a fun time in Cyprus. What is the gallery you visited? I always appreciate enjoying a creative outlet. Glad our interpretation resonates with you, too!

  4. This is such an awesome tip and definitely something I’d like to do on my next visit to NYC! I love such contemporary art installations and it seems like such fun to see them from up close and different angles. My favourite is the artwork you chose for your feature photo, the partially suspended piece of steep by Maneshe Kadishman. I first thought it was by Richard Serra, whose works I love, but was pleased to discover a new interesting artist. Really great tip, thanks for the inspiration 🙂

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