Kudos…

To the new trustees of the The Music Conservatory of Westchester, a nonprofit community school in White Plains that offers music and theater instruction and education, as well as music therapy. They are Jon Pundyk, Gary E. Bashian, and Mayo Bartlett. The appointments were announced by board president Siew Leng Chuah.

Gary E. Bashian, a Greenwich resident, is a principal at Bashian and Farber LLP, practicing in estates and trusts, estate litigation, guardianship litigation, business planning, corporate and commercial litigation, and nonprofit corporation law. Bashian currently serves as vice-chair of the estate litigation committee of the New York State Bar Association’s trust and estates law section, and has previously served on the executive committee of the New York State Bar Associate’s elder law section. He is a former chair of the trusts and estates section, has served as the chair of the tax section of the Westchester County Bar Association, and was a director of the Estate Planning Council of Westchester. Bashian is a past president of the Westchester County Bar Association, serving from 1995 to 1997.  Bashian formerly served as a director of the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester and is the former general counsel for the United States Tennis Association/eastern section. 

Mayo Bartlett, a White Plains resident, is a partner at Young & Bartlett, LLP, a law firm focusing on plaintiff’s personal injury, criminal defense, and civil rights matters. He previously worked in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and served as a litigator in the Superior Court Trial Division prior to his appointment as the chief of the Bias Crimes Unit.  Bartlett is currently a vice president of the Westchester County Bar Association, where he is also a member of the judiciary committee, and is a former director of the Westchester County Black Bar Association and the former chair of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.  Bartlett was an active member of the New York State Hate Crimes Coalition, an organization that played a pivotal role in the passage of the Hate Crime Act of 2000. Bartlett currently serves on the advisory board of the Westchester Holocaust Education Center, is a director of CLUSTER (Congregations Linked in Urban Strategy to Effect Renewal), the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, and is a member of the African American Men of Westchester. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law at Pace Law School.

Pundyk, a Rye resident, is the CEO of Glamorise Foundations, Inc. Prior to joining Glamorise, Pundyk was a consultant with Booz-Allen & Hamilton (now Booz & Co.,) where he worked with the strategy practice group and specialized in growth strategies for consumer product companies.  Additionally, Pundyk held a variety of brand marketing positions at Proctor & Gamble. Pundyk earned an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a bachelor’s of science degree from Cornell University. 

“Mr. Pundyk, Mr. Bashian, and Mr. Bartlett’s impressive backgrounds will bring new and great perspectives to the Music Conservatory of Westchester,” said Carol Shiffman, executive director. “All are longtime advocates of the musical arts, having given their time and talents for decades. We are pleased and privileged to welcome them to our board.”

The conservatory is located at 216 Central Ave. For information about classes, call 761-3900 or visit the new Website at musicconservatory.org.

A river runs through him

By Victoria Hochman

Images capturing the beauty of the Hudson River are on display at Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor as the hospital presents “Hudson River Suites: Photographs by Joseph Squillante” through Sept. 5.

From sailing ships to shorelines, mountains to marshes, lighthouses to bridges, and beyond, “Hudson River Suites” includes more than 30 images of  life along the Hudson River, including its landscapes, architecture and people. Among the images is “View From the World Trade Center,” a  large night scene of Manhattan and the Hudson taken in 1985, showing a world that is now lost forever.  

Squillante is known for his classic black-and-white photographs that distill the timeless essence of the Hudson River, which has been his central subject for more than 35 years. His romantic, quiet imagery depicts calm landscapes, intriguing elements of nature, striking architecture, and powerful portraits. In “Hudson River Suites”, Squillante expands his traditional black-and-white repertoire to include a series of color photographs that possess a painterly quality.

“Hudson River Suites” takes advantage of the free-standing partitions of the hospital’s gallery space with each wall showcasing different aspects of the river through sets or “suites” of images. For example, one suite focuses on the Highlands and features a magnificent panorama of Peekskill Bay. The Adirondacks series shows the source of the Hudson at Lake Tear of the Clouds as well as a view over the Adirondack range from Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York. A powerful night shot of the illuminated George Washington Bridge and one of the Old Saugerties Lighthouse before its renovation are included in a segment on architecture. Squillante’s iconic “Boy Fishing,” as well as a portrait of a wildlife biologist cradling a bald eagle, are also part of a suite representing people of the river.

Squillante’s color images make up a group of their own, among which is a panoramic southward view from Verplanck, brilliant autumn foliage over the cliffs of the Palisades, a 100-year-old ice boat plying the ice on Tivoli South Bay and a representation of Frank Gehry’s striking Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson.

The photographer – whose work is in the permanent collections of the New-York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, the Albany Institute of History and Art, as well as Hudson Valley Hospital Center, among others – has spent the past three decades traveling the length of the Hudson capturing the beauty and romance of the river and surrounding landscapes as well as the people who live and work along its shores. A New York Times’ reviewer noted the “zest and sincerity” of the work. Indeed, the photographs inspire viewers of all ages.

“I reach out and share my work, I meet many people who also love the river,” Squillante says. “My aim is to nurture and expand this community. I believe that a greater appreciation of this natural resource will lead to a better understanding of its importance. The Hudson is a universal subject and a continual source of inspiration.”

Suzanne Ashley, curator of Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s 12 galleries of fine art work, says the hospital hopes the community will take advantage of this inspiring display and visit the gallery:

“The Art for Health program not only subscribes to the belief that art can help in the healing process, but that in the true tradition of a community hospital, Hudson Valley Hospital Center is a place whose doors are always open to the community. We invite the public to view Squillante’s works as well as all of the inspiring artwork in our 12 galleries throughout the hospital.”

Squillante’s love of the river began in 1975, when his boyhood friend Tom moved from the Bronx to paradise—otherwise known as Tivoli, a village 100 miles north of Manhattan, population 362. Tom’s backyard was the Hudson River, flowing just beyond the railroad tracks with views of the Catskill Mountains.  In 2009, during the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage up the river, Squillante mounted several exhibitions from Manhattan to Albany, most noteworthy a solo show, “Life Along the Hudson,” at the Albany Institute of History and Art. In 2004, his solo exhibit, “The Hudson River: A Visual Voyage,” opened the Beacon Institute, a research center spearheaded by former New York state governor George Pataki.

Squillante and his wife, Carol Capobianco, founded the Hudson River School of Photography to cultivate an appreciation for the Hudson through workshops, presentations, in-classroom talks, lessons, exhibits, and notecards and prints.

To view some of Squillante’s images, visit hudsonriverphotography.com or go to youtube.com/watch?v=nnNfT5LBXJg.l 737-2314,l HudsonR@bestweb.net.

The hospital is located on Route 202 (1980 Crompond Road) in Cortlandt Manor. 737-9000,  hvhc.org

Birds, bees and beyond

The Lazarus Gallery of United Hebrew of New Rochelle, a campus of residences and services for older adults, is presenting a new juried exhibit, “Birds, Bees and Butterflies,” through Sept. 9. The exhibit features artwork reflecting these winged creatures that conjure visions of springtime and pollination, with a wealth of vibrant colors. The show represents more than  40 artists in such media as photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art and encaustic painting, which uses colored pigments mixed with heated beeswax.

“We are so pleased to be presenting such a beautiful exhibit for our nursing home and rehabilitation residents, family members, and visitors," said Linda Forman, vice president of community relations.  "The Lazarus Gallery is a wonderful space for inspiration and lifelong learning."

The exhibit was judged by Susan Hoeltzel, director of the Lehman Collage Art Gallery; Emily Mello, curator of the adult and academic programs at Purchase College’s Neuberger Museum of Art; and Stomu Miyazak,i an architect and chairman of the board of trustees of The Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem. The curator for the exhibition is Jodi Moise of New Rochelle.

The United Hebrew Lazarus Gallery is at 391 Pelham Road. 632-1224, uhgc.org.

Tour Kykuit

May has arrived, and with it tours of Kykuit, the historic Rockefeller family estate in Pocantico Hills.
For the uninitiated, Kykuit is not your typical rich person’s house. The stone-encrusted mansion is both rustic and modest by turn-of-the-20th-century, tycoon standards. The Breakers it isn’t.


And that reflects the Baptist philosophy of John D. Rockefeller Sr. and his wife, the former Laura Spelman, who were not interested in the conspicuous consumption of the Vanderbilts.


But Kykuit (KY-cut) – from the Dutch for “lookout” – does boast some of the most spectacular sculpture gardens anywhere. And that reflects the influence of succeeding generations, specifically that of John D. Jr., who brought a classically flavored Beaux Arts touch to the estate, and his second son, Nelson, the onetime vice president and New York governor, who served as Kykuit’s last master. (It was he who bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to be operated and maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and administered by Historic Hudson Valley in Tarrytown.)


Say what you want about Nelson as a pol – and there are experts who have plenty to say – but from an aesthetic point of view, no one can deny that he had a superb curatorial eye. As you wander the Inner Garden, with its bronze nymphs by Maillol, Nadelman and Lachaise, surely one of the most romantic spots in Westchester, or take in the abstractions by Calder and Moore that ring the property, keep in mind that every work was situated by Nelson himself. The sight lines are superb: He placed each object so that it is linked with other related works that can be easily seen from any of their vantage points. So you can spy the modern nymphs of the Inner Garden from the Temple of Venus, which harks back to John Jr.’s time, and vice versa.
But like any good curator, Nelson also makes intuitive connections that transcend the purely visual.


Just below the swimming pool terrace, he nestled two horizontal works – Jean Ipousteguy’s “Alexander Before Ecbatane,” a 1965 bronze made of moving parts in which the Macedonian conqueror seems to become war itself, and Gaston Lachaise’s “Dans la Nuit,” a 1935 bronze of a  entwined nude couple. Love and war are inextricably linked.


When he received an Arts Award from what is now ArtsWestchester in 1977, Rockefeller remarked on the further juxtaposition of these two works with a pair of beefy 18th-century Italian garden sculptures depicting one of Alexander’s ancestors, Hercules.


“The thing to me is this shows the combination of old and new,” he said. “And as long as you don’t approach these pieces with some intellectual concern for logic, you are going to enjoy them. Or maybe you won’t enjoy them, but anyhow, just expose yourself to them and see if you don’t. But don’t make a decision too soon.”
It’s this kind of adventurous thinking, more than the commanding view or the expensive cars,make Kykuit a Westchester treasure.


Kykuit is open through Nov. 6, and tours are offered daily except Tuesdays.
Visitors can choose from four tours – Classic, Grand, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights.
The Classic, ideal for first-time visitors, is a shorter experience than the comprehensive three-hour Grand. Besides the mansion, both of these tours include time in Kykuit’s art galleries, terraced gardens, and Coach Barn, with its collection of horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and equestrian equipment. The 90-minute Timesaver is ideal for those on tighter schedules, while Selected Highlights maximizes time in the estate’s gardens. (For me, the gardens are the real selling point here.)


Visitors can buy tickets online in advance, choosing the exact tour, time, and date they want to visit. Tickets are on sale now at www.hudsonvalley.org. Ticket prices range from $21-$40; $13-$30 for Historic Hudson Valley or National Trust members. Advanced ticket buying is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend tours, which fill up quickly. Besides online at hudsonvalley.org, tickets may be purchased by calling 631-8200 (service charge additional) or stopping by the Kykuit Visitor Center at Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow. All tours start at the Kykuit Visitor Center. The doors open at 9 a.m.
Visitors can also reach Kykuit via a special Metro-North Railroad package that includes discounted admission to both Kykuit and nearby Philipsburg Manor, plus rail fare.


For those interested in making a full weekend out of a visit, Tarrytown House Estate offers a special package that includes overnight accommodations and tickets to Kykuit, plus three Historic Hudson Valley properties – Philipsburg Manor, the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside. Information: tarrytownhouse.com

Brushing up on art

The College of New Rochelle presents “With a Myriad of Brushstrokes” by artist and CNR graduate Valerie Moreno in the Mooney Center Gallery on the main campus from May 21 to June 14, 2011.

As a fine arts graduate of The College of New Rochelle with graduate work in fine arts at Brooklyn College, Montclair State University and the Arts Students League, Moreno uses brushstrokes to create variations of light and shadow,  with washes of color defining texture and form. Her artistic interests include archaeological treasures, historical cities and nature. Moreno attributes her aesthetic development to the exceptional classical foundation in fine arts that she received at The College of New Rochelle and encouragement from her father, who was an architect, and her family. Her love of travel, both nationally and internationally, weave the canvas for her work.

Her accomplishments are included in a file established in the Archives on Women Artists, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.  She has also developed a series of art/travel-related programs that she presents to various organizations.   

There’s an opening reception on June 11, from 3 to 5 p.m in the Mooney Center Lounge.

Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun.  cnr.edu

The circus comes to Van Cortlandt Manor

Edited by Georgette Gouveia

By Rob Schweitzer

A baby bear, stilt-dancers, gargantuan puppets and the chance to become a circus star are just some of the new highlights for this year’s Memorial Day weekend classic, Animals & Acrobats at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

 The new acts join returning favorites that include Atka, the ambassador wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, and A Different Spin, a group that juggles objects and comedy.

In America’s early days, fire jugglers, tumbling acrobats, rope walkers, magicians — indeed, clever characters of all sorts — used to travel the countryside as a ragged band of entertainers, setting up shop at various locations. This is how the traditional American circus began, and it’s the inspiration for Animals & Acrobats, which takes place May 28 through 30, 10 a.m. to 5p.m. at Van Cortlandt Manor, a Post-Revolutionary site administered by Historic Hudson Valley in Tarrytown.

“We put so much into this weekend that I’m sure we rival the best traveling circuses from years gone by,” said Althea Corey, site director of Van Cortlandt Manor.

Among the new acts are:

* Boston Circus Guild — This professional troupe offers a wide-range of circus magic including high-flying acrobatics, stilt-dancing (not walking, dancing!), and gargantuan puppets who roam the crowd. Contortionists who squeeze themselves into the tightest of spaces round out the group’s roster.

* Wildlife Expert Andrew Simmons — Simmons, who specializes in predators, will bring a baby bear cub for all to see. His presentation focuses on the importance of conservation.

* Circus Arts Camp (Hartsdale) — Kids can learn to balance on a low-wire, ride a unicycle, juggle, spin plates and walk on stilts.

* Museum of Curiosities — Visitors might be awed by a giant mastodon, an Invisible Lady, and a Cabinet of Natural History featuring taxidermy specimens on loan from Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining.

Returning favorites include: A Different Spin, an act that was formed at Vassar College and melds juggling, daring acrobatics and comedy; and Two by Two Zoo, a conservation group that educates the public about fascinating wildlife. Hopping kangaroos, flying lemurs, hilarious monkeys, pythons, parrots, and goats are some of their traveling stars.

The Wolf Conservation Center returns with ambassador wolf Atka. Other performers include Jennifer Pena’s birds-of-prey demonstration Flight of the Raptor; The Acrobrats; slack rope walker Dikki Ellis; Chris Yerlig as Hoopoe the Mime; fire juggler Will Shaw; storyteller April Armstrong; Fred Greenspan’s Punch & Judy Shows; magician Bob Olson; storytelling, dance, and olden music by Bells & Motley; fortune-telling by mystic Glenda Hughes; and musicians Jim Keyes & Cristal Stevens, and Margaret Vetare & Bill Ochs.

Acts old and new will be introduced by ringmaster – and master storyteller himself – Jonathan Kruk.

Geordane’s of Irvington will provide picnic food and beverages. New this year, visitors can order an entire picnic in advance online. (Orders must be placed by May 23.) Also new this year for the sweet tooth is homemade ice cream from Blue Pig of Croton, featuring ingredients from Hudson Valley sources.

Tickets are $12; $10 for children ages 5-17, free for children under age 5 and HHV members. Visitors who purchase tickets in advance online can get free popcorn for everyone under 18 in their party.

Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue (off Route 9). Take the Croton Point Avenue exit from Route 9 and follow the signs. For information: 631-8200, .hudsonvalley.org.

M.A.D. men (and women)

Nine nationally and internationally known artists (alias the M.A.D. group) come together for an inaugural group exhibition to be held in Katonah.

Offerings Gallery in Katonah will exhibit the work from May 22 to June 26, with a reception to meet the artists on May 22 from noon to 4 p.m.

The M.A.D. group has been meeting monthly for over a year to encourage an exchange of ideas about contemporary art-making today.

“Showing work of such power and diversity underscores Offerings mission to make available the highest quality contemporary American art and craft.” says Mindy Yanish, owner of Offerings and also one of the M.A.D. artists.

For 20 years, Offerings gallery has been a Katonah institution, hosting events like this to enhance community and promote the greater good.

The nine artists are A. Eric Arctander, from Putnam Valley;  Sharon Nakazato, of Brewster; Jim Sparks of Mahopac; Christopher Staples of Carmel; Jean Tock of Mahopac; Alice Walsh of Carmel; Mindy Yanish and Rina Yeshoua of Katonah, and Susan Zoon of Carmel.

Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and noon-4 p.m. Sun. The gallery is at 59 Katonah Ave. 232-9643

Music man

Landrum’s songwriting workshop at 7 p.m. May 24 in Sleepy Hollow.

Each Wednesday evening for the last seven weeks, students from all over Westchester County and the surrounding region have been meeting to study songwriting with the Grammy Award-winning composer.  During these sessions, student musicians discuss the history and techniques of songwriting while analyzing songs from all genres and eras, fostering an appreciation and respect for the art and craft of composition.  While instrumental expertise is not required for the class, a willingness to have one’s songs performed is part of the professional experience and the fun.

Composer, arranger, producer Landrum has written scores for the Emmy-nominated “Living the Story: The Civil Rights Movement in Kentucky” (PBS), “A Touch of Fate” (a Lifetime movie starring Teri Hatcher), and songs for albums by John Whelan and Francine Reed.  He was the orchestrator of the Broadway musical, “In My Life,” and won a Grammy Award for his work on the TV series “Twin Peaks,” created by David Lynch.

The concert is is free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The center is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to nurturing a community in which literary writers and those who love literature celebrate and further the creative process.  The center presents public readings by established and emerging writers, offers a variety of writing workshops in many genres, organizes educational programs for school children and people with special needs, and publishes new works of literature under the imprint of Slapering Hol Press.  The mission of the Slapering Hol Press, the small-press imprint of the Writers’ Center, is to advance the national and international conversation of poetry and poetics principally by publishing and supporting the work of emerging poets.

The HVWC is located at the restored historic Philipse Manor railroad station, 300 Riverside Drive. For more information about the center, the New Play Reading Series, and for an updated schedule of readings, workshops and events, call 332-5953 or visit writerscenter.org.

On the 20th century

Building on its January debut, the Hudson Chorale will present a salute to 20^th-century composers May 21 at Irvington High School.

The 90-voice ensemble will offer a program titled, "Myths and Meditations," featuring works by Morten Lauridsen, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Arthur Bliss.

The 1997 premiere of “Lux Aeterna” swept composer Morten Lauridsen to international fame and has earned him the distinction of being the most-performed American choral composer of our time.  He was named an "American Choral Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts and awarded the National Medal of Arts by the U.S .government in 2007 "for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide." 

“The Lark Ascending,” an incandescent work by Ralph Vaughan Williams for violin and orchestra, found inspiration in a poem by George Meredith.  Long a favorite in the British orchestral repertoire, this piece debuted in 1914 and blends English folk music with themes inspired by Bach, Handel, Ravel, and Debussy. 

The program also includes “Pastoral” by Arthur Bliss, who was appointed Master of the Queen’s Music in 1953 and was knighted for his musical compositions.  Following a visit to the Italian countryside, Bliss collected an anthology of poetry depicting a Sicilian day from dawn to evening, and set these poems to music for voice, flute, timpani and strings.

Music director Michael Conley will conduct the 8 p.m. performance at the high school, 40 N. Broadway (Route 9). Conley is also a composer, pianist, organist, and singer.

Tickets are $25, $10 for students, and can be purchased at the door, by calling 462-3212 or by visiting hudsonchorale.org. 

Season finale

It’s been a rough year for the Westchester Philharmonic with the loss of artistic director Itzhak Perlman. But like the troupers they are, the musicians are soldiering on. With Jamie Laredo at the podium, the Westchester Phil concludes its season May 14 at 8 p.m. and 15 at 3 p.m. with three virtuoso works – the overture to Rossini’s “Semiramide,” Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring Orion Weiss, and Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5.

Weiss will participate in a free pre-concert discussion for ticket-holders on May 14 at 6:50 p.m. and May 15 at 1:50 p.m. The discussion on Weiss’ career and on performing Chopin will be moderated by Executive Director Joshua Worby.

All events take place at The Concert Hall at Purchase College’s Performing Arts Center, Anderson Hill Road between Purchase and King streets. A free open rehearsal is also scheduled for May 14 at 10 a.m. in The Concert Hall.

Concert tickets range from $25 to $90. They’re available at 682-3707, ext. 10. westchesterphil.org

In the Pink(ster)

Drumming, dancing and dramatic vignettes – along with dining on traditional West Indian and African-American cuisine – make up the Pinkster Festival at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, May 15, from noon to 5 p.m.

Pinkster is inspired by the grand cross-cultural springtime celebrations jointly created by Dutch settlers and enslaved Africans during the colonial period. Originally, Pinkster was a Dutch holiday that combined religious and secular traditions. (The name comes from the Dutch word for Pentecost.) But despite the holiday’s Dutch origins, Africans in New York and New Jersey were so successful at incorporating their own cultures into the celebration that by the early 1800s, Pinkster was actually considered an African-American holiday.

Pinkster was unusual in that both Africans and Europeans took part in the festivities, which featured some elements of role reversal among the races. The enslaved community, for example, would “roast” their white owners during the festival.

For the African community, it was a profound opportunity for family members and friends, many of whom were separated from one another, to come together.

“It was a chance for people, especially those forced to toil in rural, isolated areas, to get together, to see their own relatives and friends,” said Thom Thacker, Philipsburg Manor site director.

Pinkster features African folktales, and cooking demonstrations. Musical performers include a roaming fiddler and a player of the kora, which is a traditional West African instrument.

African drumming and dance demonstrations will be led by Maxwell Kofi Donkor, a Ghanaian native and renowned drummer who is also an award-winning sculptor and art educator. Kofi has shared the stage with drummers such as Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and Babatunde Olatunji and his Drums of Passion.

Other Pinkster performance highlights include storytelling by April Armstrong and African Colonial dance by Judith Samuel and the Children of Dahomey.

As in historic Pinkster celebrations, two “Grand Events” mark the day. The first is the Pinkster Parade and the Game of Lies, beginning at 12:30 p.m. After this elaborate ceremony of matching wits, the community crowns the Pinkster King. Later in the afternoon, at 3 p.m., the Election takes place, which names the Pinkster Regent, who will be the King for the following year.

Besides the special performances and Grand Events, ongoing activities include demonstrations of coopering and open-hearth cooking, crafts and games, plus tours of the working gristmill and manor house.

The Pinkster Festival is sponsored by Con Edison. Admission is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; $6 for children 5-17; and free for children under 5 and Historic Hudson Valley members. Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9). 631-3992, hudsonvalley.org.