TUESDAY, April 29, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation in Mt. Kisco

 

William Louis Dreyfus

The late businessman William Louis-Dreyfus spent his life amassing a gigantic trove of more than 3,000 artworks, starting with a Wassily Kandinsky watercolor in 1965, and the passion for collecting ran through him until he died in 2016, at the age of 84. He had a special interest in Outsider Art.

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation's art collection is made up of pieces by self-taught and contemporary artists such as James Castle, Rackstraw Downes, Red Grooms, Bill Traylor, Thornton Dial, and Nellie Mae Rowe. Over 200 artists are featured in the Foundation's collection, all collected by its benefactor.

DETAILS:

DATE: TUESDAY, April 29, 2025

LOCATION: William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation, 211 Kisco Avenue, Mt. Kisco, NY.
The entrance to the facility is located via a short path at the far side of the parking lot.
Before our visit, you may like to familiarize yourself with the collection by visiting http://www.wldfoundation.org/.

DIRECTIONS 

By Car: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//211+Kisco+Ave,+Mt+Kisco,+NY+10549/

By Train (From NYC): Take Metro North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal to the Mt. Kisco Station via the Harlem Line. The Foundation is a short walk from the train station.

START TIME: Please arrive by 10:45 AM, so we will be ready to start our tour at 11:00 AM. If you are running late, please notify the Foundation by calling 914 864-1425.

A staff member will meet us at the main entrance at the designated start time. There will be a short introduction to the collection followed by a tour highlighting some of the key works and artists. We will have time at the end of the tour for independent viewing and sketching.

SHOW and TELL: We will do show and tell at the end of our sketching time. This is the social part of our day where we share our drawings, tips, and stories.  We will do show and tell either at the Foundation or outside if weather permits.

LUNCH: Food and drinks are not permitted in the Foundation so lunch will be on our own.

NOTES:

• Admission is free.
• Parking, while ample, is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• If possible, secure coats and personal items in your vehicle prior to entering the building.
• Coats, and other personal belongings brought into the building will be stored in the coatroom before the start of the tour.
• Pencils only - no pens or markers.
• Limited seating available. Bring a stool if you have one. 

Please RSVP to Cathy (westchester@nycurbansketchers.org) as soon as possible. We will be providing an attendee list to the Foundation.

Looking for us? Call/text: Marianne at (914) 355-2420.

There are no fees. All drawing skill levels are welcome. 

Wednesday June 30, 2025 Weekday Sketchers on Roosevelt Island

 

Weekday Sketchers on Roosevelt Island for Cherry Blossom Season

There are so many places in New York to see the seasonal display of cherry blossoms.  One of the best is Roosevelt Island.  Join us this Wednesday to capture their beauty against the backdrop of the Queensboro Bridge,  the UN building and the Queens waterfront with the cherry trees in the foreground.  

DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2024

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: WALKWAY ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND 

                    We will meet along the west side of the island (UN View) on the walkway under the cherry trees.  Turn left (south) out of the subway or tram stations and continue down the walkway under the bridge to the walkway.        

TRANSPORTATION:  F Train to Roosevelt Island, or the Roosevelt Island Tram

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@nycurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• WE will meet on the west side (UN view) of the island on the walkway under the cherry blossoms 
• There are plenty of benches but bringing a stool gives you more options for viewpoints
• Bring lunch or purchase it from the cafe at the Cornell Center
• Bathrooms, food and water are available

Walkway on west side of Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island w meeting spot and cafe

Weekday Sketchers Schedule May and June

Weekday Sketchers Schedule for May and June

John Chamberlain Sculptures

In an effort to help you plan to attend the Weekday Sketchers events, here is the schedule for May and June.   Please note that this is a suggested list and can change due to weather and other unforeseen events.  Please make sure to check the blog and social media for accurate information.

Wednesday May 7                      Conservatory Garden, Central Park

Wednesday May 14                    Stonewall Museum

Monday May 19                        Special Event: Jamaica Bay Bird Walk and Sketching 

Wednesday May 21                    "NY Roots" Garment District

Wednesday May 28                    Gansevoort Peninsular

Wednesday June 4                       Riverside Park : Art Students League "Works in Public"

Wednesday June 11                     Rockefeller Center: John Chamberlain sculptures 

Wednesday June 18                    Edgar Alan Poe House

Wednesday June 25                    Domino Park/Square

Saturday, April 26, 2025-new sketch location-Pier 57

Saturday, April 26, 2025 @10 am - 3pm 

Pier 57 - 25 11th ave @15th street

Meet at the “Living Room” the open seating beyond the food court (heading west toward the water from the 11th Ave. entrance)

Originally built as a shipping and storage terminal, Pier 57 at Hudson River Park has been reimagined as a food hall and community space. With food venues curated by the James Beard Foundation, the pier is a fabulous place to eat, draw, and take in the sites.  In addition to the colorful food stalls, Little Island and the Hudson River, adjacent to the pier, provide plenty of inspiration for urban sketching.

Should the weather cooperate, there is also a rooftop park.

There are public restrooms available. Stools are permitted.

How to get there: The A, C, and E trains at 8th Ave. and 14th is the closest subway line. There are also various bus routes that come close to the pier.

Hosted by Kim Hall (917) 566-7714

SATURDAY: Sketch Washington Square Park

 

Washington Square Park is the heart and soul of Greenwich Village. Its vibrant atmosphere is ever-changing: full of music, vendors, dancing, a beautiful dog run, and incomparable people watching. Bordering the park are charming row houses, NYU buildings, and historic old-growth trees, including the oldest one in Manhattan. 

For lunch there are food carts and many restaurant options nearby. There are public restrooms in the park, plenty of benches, and a shady lawn to sit on, though a stool will always give you more options.

Hosted by Kim Hall (917) 566-7714

 A SPECIAL OUTING

JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE 

BIRD WATCH AND SKETCHING

If you have never been to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve this is your chance to fix that!

Visitor's Center

It is amazing that between one of the busiest airports and one of the world's largest cities, is a 12,600 wildlife refuge with salt water marshes, freshwater ponds and hundreds of species of wildlife.  Walking through this serene setting you would think you were far, far from the city until you see its skyline rise up on the horizon.  Join us for a day in one of NYC's (not so)  hidden treasures for a guided bird walk and day of sketching.  

The guided bird walk is led by Don Reipe, naturalist and manager of the National Park System Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  For informant about Don, click here: https://www.littoralsociety.org/don-riepe.html

For information about Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, click here: https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge.htm

Thanks to Diana Berchan for making these arrangements!

DATE:  MONDAY May 19, 2025

                (Rain Date Tuesday May 20, 2025) 

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE 

                                CROSS BAY BOULEVARD, QUEENS

TRANSPORTATION: Check the website for driving and public transit information:https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge.htm

While the site is accessible by public transportation, using a car is the most expedient way to get there.  If you are driving, please let Diana know if you can accommodate people for a car pool or if you would like to hook up for a ride.  A list of people who can provide rides and those looking for rides will be sent to those people. It will be up to those individuals to make the arrangements. 

Thanks to Diana Berchan for arranging a private bird walk and sketching day! 

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Diana Berchan at dberchan@me.com
• Looking for us? Call or text Diana at 917-608-8262
• There is no fee for this outing or birdwalk.  A suggested donation is $5.00
• Bird walk is optional. You can join us at any part of the day. 
• Water and bathrooms are available at the Vistor's Center
• There will be a considerable amount of walking on flat sandy surfaces, please wear appropriate shoes.
• There is no food service in the park. Please make sure to bring whatever you need with you.
• Bring a hat, binoculars, stool  and sunblock 
• Bring a bottle for drinking water
• See note above for car pool arrangements 

THURSDAY, April 24, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico, Tarrytown

 

Once home to the Rockefeller family, The Pocantico Center’s verdant campus in the scenic hills of the Hudson Valley has been host to some of the most influential leaders, thinkers, and creative minds of the last century. A thoughtfully designed and curated retreat just 20 miles north of Manhattan, Pocantico offers guests an immersive experience of unrivaled beauty, with breathtaking gardens and grounds, historic architecture, and a renowned art collection in which to find inspiration and respite.

Today, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund continues to bring together people at Pocantico through a robust slate of conferences, artist residencies, tours, performances, exhibitions, and educational programs.

Currently On Exhibit: Sketching Light: Chagall’s Windows for Union Church provides a rare opportunity for visitors to explore the creative process of renowned artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985).

DETAILS:

Where: The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico, 200 Lake Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591.

NOTE:  Please carpool if possible. Before proceeding through the gate, all guests must check-in with staff, who can provide further information about parking.

When: THURSDAY, April 24 2025. 

Time: Please arrive promptly at 10:00 AM.  A curator will meet us in the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center (DR Center) at to conduct a brief tour. 

Directions: https://www.rbf.org/pocantico/pocantico-center/visitor-information 

Via Car: Navigate to The Pocantico Center; the entrance is at the intersection of Lake Road and Bedford Road/Route 448. (Detailed directions from various origins are available here.) There are no signs at the entrance, so proceed slowly. Map Location 

When you arrive, drive down the driveway on the far right and announce yourself to the security staff on duty, who will advise you on parking. If anyone has any accessibility concerns or questions, please let me know. The DR Center is all on one level and is completely ADA accessible.

Transportation from NYC: Take the Hudson line train to Tarrytown Station. Pre-scheduling a taxi or ride-hailing service from the station is recommended, as taxis are not readily available.  For current information, check the Metro-North schedule.

Lunch: 1 PM Bring your own food. 

Show & Tell: Following lunch, we will share stories and sketches during the social part of our day.

NOTES:

- ONLY DRY MATERIALS are allowed (pastel, pens, or colored pencils).
- Bring drinking water.
- There are lots of benches but bring a stool for more options.
- Guests at Pocantico should dress comfortably for the season. Comfortable shoes are recommended for navigating the grounds.
- Restrooms are available.
- Parking is free.

Looking for us? Call: Marianne at (914) 355-6507

Please R.S.V.P. to Cathy Gutterman westchester@nycurbansketchers.org by Tuesday, April 22nd so we can provide a list of attendees names to the gate staff.

There are no fees. All drawing skill levels are welcome.