Where art is as big as the great outdoors

Visitors admire Alexander Liberman’s ‘Iliad.’   

By LAURA SCHILLER 

Remember that time you took the family to a museum, hoping to spend the day admiring art and soaking up a little culture? Within minutes, the kids were tugging at your sleeve, asking for snacks, searching for a lost cellphone, and plotting their escape from the gallery walls.

This summer, consider a different kind of art experience. At Storm King Art Center, more than 100 large-scale sculptures are spread across 500 acres of rolling hills and meadows. Families can wander winding paths, discover monumental sculptures and enjoy a day outdoors. About an hour’s drive from Westchester County, Storm King is an ideal summer day trip for families looking for something both enriching and fun.

“One thing that can be very special for people coming to Storm King for the first time is realizing how relaxed an experience with art can be for a whole family,” Storm King Art Center Executive Director Nora Lawrence said. “We have some of the most extraordinary works by some of the greatest living sculptors. Having them placed outside lets people experience them in a way that feels much more familiar than going into an art gallery. People come here with a spirit of relaxation and a desire for wonder.”

The center’s outdoor setting creates a unique relationship between art and nature that visitors won’t find in a traditional museum or on a typical hike. Among the newest works is a 35-foot-long sturgeon sculpture by artist Saif Azzuz, inspired by the ancient fish that once populated the Hudson River. The piece encourages visitors to think about the local environment and the connections between landscape, wildlife and history.

Families often gravitate toward permanent favorites such as Isamu Noguchi’s Momo Taro, a sculpture Lawrence said has become the backdrop for an annual family photo tradition with her own children. Other visitor favorites include Martin Puryear’s Lookout, which offers sweeping views of the landscape; Maya Lin’s Storm King Wavefield, where guests can walk among rolling earthworks; and Andy Goldsworthy’s Storm King Wall, a winding stone wall that stretches nearly a half-mile across the property.

A typical visit might include exploring the grounds on foot or by bike, stopping for a picnic, and discovering a world-class sculpture around the next bend. Visitors are encouraged to move at their own pace, whether that means seeking out every major installation or simply finding a quiet place to sit and take in the scenery while the kids race across the hills.

Family-friendly scavenger hunts add another layer of fun, encouraging visitors to search for everything from sculptures to four-leaf clovers and red-winged blackbirds. During the summer, extended weekend hours give guests more time to explore, while Free First Fridays offer special family programming and tours.

So, trade screens, schedules and crowded indoor attractions for fresh air and wonder on a day trip to Storm King, where open space is just the beginning.

Visit stormking.org for more information.