This and That by JL

Dear Friends: These are trying times for all of us: so many needs… so many challenges. It is indeed daunting. I think that if 2016 has taught us anything, it is that exercising our freedom of expression is a fundamental privilege we enjoy as Americans. That is why I believe the arts are so important…because […]

I cheered to myself when I heard Bob Dylan was chosen for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Days later, I was crushed when he didn’t accept the honor. His answer is probably still “blowin’ in the wind.” But, OMG, what a missed moment for the arts! My delight at first was due to the “bravo” […]

  It’s going to be a tough choice no matter how you slice it. No, I’m not talking about the election. I’m talking about the weekend. Jazz Fest is sizzling this weekend in White Plains with a terrific line-up of musicians from Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Two outstanding evenings are Friday with the Gary Smulyan […]

The evolution of public art is an interesting journey that began as a way to memorialize and revere individuals, sometimes war heroes, for their service to the public. During the New Deal, public art was used to put artists to work during the depression. They created works of art in conjunction with public construction projects. […]

The PepsiCo sculpture garden in Purchase will reopen to the public in March, according to a statement by a PepsiCo spokesperson reported in The Journal News. I say “Bravo”! The collection is one of the most brilliant displays of 20th century sculpture, juxtaposing the individual works against an encyclopedic background of monumental sculpture of our […]

We are deeply saddened by this announcement from The New York Times: “As of August 29th, The Times will discontinue the regional editions of the Metropolitan section of The New York Times, which includes Connecticut, Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey. Those areas will receive the Metropolitan edition that currently circulates in the five boroughs.” This news hit arts organizations in the […]

In the wake of the Orlando tragedy, I ask myself again a question that I ask myself frequently: “What is there about art that makes us turn to it in times of tragedy?” Governor Cuomo turned to the arts this week when he announced a million dollar art project to honor “all victims of hate, […]

  I had quite forgotten how spectacular the view is at Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in Tarrytown. This week, it was glorious as Friends of ArtsWestchester shared a visit. (These are our special members whom we take to stellar arts places.) Henry Moore was at Kykuit to welcome us. Not in person of course, but […]