Snowdrops,
crocus and aconite are all abloom in our Wild Garden, each little burst
of early color bringing with it inordinate joy as we officially welcome
spring today.
Looking ahead now to the first weekend in April, please note the focus on Mark Twain, perhaps our most illustrious former resident. The
almost two years that Mark Twain’s family lived in Wave Hill House were
unusually domestic ones for the adventurous author. The Clemenses
embraced the house as a gathering-place for friends and notables, and
made use of its grand dining room as often as Mrs. Clemens’ health would
permit. Clemens also enjoyed being out on the grounds, sitting with
friends on the lawn in front of the house, observing and naming the
mischievous squirrels—thus the special guided walk we are offering on Saturday—or climbing up to a tree house that had been built in a chestnut tree. Sunday brings a dramatic reading—an
hour directed by Stephen Hamilton, exploring Twain’s humor, insights
and irreverence. Under Hamilton’s direction, actor Victor Slezak will
bring Mark Twain into focus, seamlessly knitting together excerpts from
Twain’s novels, biographical snapshots, quotes from the author’s
lectures and much more to capture this complex literary giant. In
Steve’s words, the performance “is not a representation of the man,
Samuel Clemens, but a celebration of his work. The words speak for
themselves.”
This weekend we also welcome the opening of our spring group show, all work inspired by Wave Hill’s Conservatory; the release is attached! Captions for the two images attached:
· Carrie Beckmann, The Wave Hill Greenhouse Effect, 2012, watercolor on paper, 43 ½” x 44 ½”. Private collection.
· Nick Lamia, Agave, Wave Hill, 2014, graphite on paper, 8” x 10”. Courtesy of the artist
SAT, APRIL 5 FAMILY ART PROJECT: LIVING STRUCTURES
Hear the story of a boy who creates a forest in his room. Then join visiting artist J.Q. Nelson to create your own miniature living environment, with trees growing through the floor, plants hanging from the ceiling, a garden in the kitchen and windows and doors to let the light in. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
Hear the story of a boy who creates a forest in his room. Then join visiting artist J.Q. Nelson to create your own miniature living environment, with trees growing through the floor, plants hanging from the ceiling, a garden in the kitchen and windows and doors to let the light in. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SAT, APRIL 5 TAI CHI CHUAN
Quiet
like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle
movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee,
a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to
the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits.
Sessions are held outdoors as weather permits. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave
Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor
Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online
registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday
before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be
accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a
Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front
gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM
SAT, APRIL 5 GARDEN WALK: TWAIN’S TREES
Over
a century has passed since Mark Twain lived at Wave Hill, yet a number
of trees still flourish from that era. Take a walk with Horticultural
Interpreter Charles Day to admire some of our venerable arboreal survivors. Free with admission to the grounds. Illustrious Residents event.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM
SUN, APRIL 6 FAMILY ART PROJECT: LIVING STRUCTURES
Hear the story of a boy who creates a forest in his room. Then join visiting artist J.Q. Nelson to create your own miniature living environment, with trees growing through the floor, plants hanging from the ceiling, a garden in the kitchen and windows and doors to let the light in. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
Hear the story of a boy who creates a forest in his room. Then join visiting artist J.Q. Nelson to create your own miniature living environment, with trees growing through the floor, plants hanging from the ceiling, a garden in the kitchen and windows and doors to let the light in. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SUN, APRIL 6 HATHA YOGA
Reduce
stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to
mind, body and spirit with a yoga practice. Classes are led by Yoga for
Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. Ms.
Dewji is certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for
Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All
levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors until May. Session fee:
$25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the
Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.)
Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday
before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be
accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a
Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front
gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM
SUN, APRIL 6 MEDITATION
This
spring, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner
self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in
simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Classes
are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified
instructors. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors. Session
fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at
the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.)
Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday
before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be
accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a
Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front
gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM
SUN, APRIL 6 PERFORMANCE: MARK TWAIN ILLUMINATED
Explore the humor, insights and irreverence of American writer Mark Twain at this dramatic reading. An illustrious former resident of Wave Hill House, Mark Twain and his family lived here in the early 1900’s. Stephen Hamilton, who directed a memorable show about Charles Dickens at Wave Hill a few seasons ago, returns to Armor Hall with actor Victor Slezak to bring Mark Twain into focus, seamlessly knitting together excerpts from Twain’s novels, biographical snapshots, quotes from the author’s lectures and much more to capture this complex literary giant. Christopher Cascio, an MFA candidate in Creative Writing and Literature at Stony Brook University, serves as dramaturg; his latest piece is entitled Water Baby: A Memoir. “As with the Charles Dickens piece” says Hamilton, “Mark Twain Illuminated is not a representation of the man, Samuel Clemens, but a celebration of his work. The words speak for themselves.” Source materials include the beloved novels A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Prince and the Pauper and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, alongside passages from quintessential yet lesser known works The Mysterious Stranger and Is He Dead? Victor Slezak, a veteran of Broadway stage, film and television, is known for the research he brings to playing roles of particular power and complexity. He is a member of the Actor’s Studio and The Ensemble Studio Theater and is on the board of the HB Playwrights Foundation. Recent guest appearances include those for television series including “Homeland,” “Blue Bloods” and “The Americans.” His film work includes “The Bridges of Madison County” and “The Devil’s Own.” One hour, no intermission. Registration required.
Explore the humor, insights and irreverence of American writer Mark Twain at this dramatic reading. An illustrious former resident of Wave Hill House, Mark Twain and his family lived here in the early 1900’s. Stephen Hamilton, who directed a memorable show about Charles Dickens at Wave Hill a few seasons ago, returns to Armor Hall with actor Victor Slezak to bring Mark Twain into focus, seamlessly knitting together excerpts from Twain’s novels, biographical snapshots, quotes from the author’s lectures and much more to capture this complex literary giant. Christopher Cascio, an MFA candidate in Creative Writing and Literature at Stony Brook University, serves as dramaturg; his latest piece is entitled Water Baby: A Memoir. “As with the Charles Dickens piece” says Hamilton, “Mark Twain Illuminated is not a representation of the man, Samuel Clemens, but a celebration of his work. The words speak for themselves.” Source materials include the beloved novels A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Prince and the Pauper and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, alongside passages from quintessential yet lesser known works The Mysterious Stranger and Is He Dead? Victor Slezak, a veteran of Broadway stage, film and television, is known for the research he brings to playing roles of particular power and complexity. He is a member of the Actor’s Studio and The Ensemble Studio Theater and is on the board of the HB Playwrights Foundation. Recent guest appearances include those for television series including “Homeland,” “Blue Bloods” and “The Americans.” His film work includes “The Bridges of Madison County” and “The Devil’s Own.” One hour, no intermission. Registration required.
General Admission Tickets $32, $28 Senior, $18 child (ages 7 to 18); Wave Hill Members $22; child $12. Illustrious Resident event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM
SUN, APRIL 6 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM
MON, APRIL 7
Closed to the public.
TUE, APRIL 8 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11Am
TUE, APRIL 8 GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus and Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus and Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
A
28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River
and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and
legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views,
and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs
in horticulture, education and the arts.
HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.
ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day on Tuesdays in April. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.
Visitors
to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer.
Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the
gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/
DIRECTIONS
– Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan,
Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate
and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242nd
Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available
for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with
continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot
and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.
Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.
