New arts space to open in October on Rockefeller estate; what's planned

For nearly 100 years, the vast Rockefeller estate in Mount Pleasant known as Kykuit was a private retreat available only to family members. In 1994, the estate and its gardens opened for public tours when it became property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Small public arts programs have also been available on the grounds since 2012 through the Pocantico Center.

Now, a new arts and education endeavor is poised to grant even more public access to the estate, and at the same time, create a synergy with the surrounding community, said Elly Weisenberg Kelly, manager of public programs and residencies at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

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The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico — or DR Center as it is known — will open in October offering an art gallery, as well as varied arts and educational programming, including performances and exhibits, residencies for artists working across disciplines, and space for school and community cultural functions.

"It's an opportunity to bring in the community, especially underserved populations, to see not only what's here, but to experience the artistic process," said Judy Clark, executive director of the Pocantico Center of the Rockfeller Brothers Fund.

"Many people don't realize what we have here," added Kelly, noting the new center provides an opportunity to explore world-class arts programming without making a trip into New York City. And, she stresses, this is not an exclusive venue: All programs will be open to the public; many free and others with an average ticket price of $15.

The centerpiece of the new center is the adaptive reuse of the property's 1908 Orangerie which was bequeathed to the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1979.

An orangerie is a special greenhouse where orange and other citrus trees would be grown over the winter. The project is transforming the building into a multipurpose performance and rehearsal space.

Clark noted that the Pocantico Center has been hosting arts events since 2012. Later this month, for example, it will host Dorrance Dance at its outdoor amphitheater. "But we were always beholden to the weather," she said. "We had considered a tent, but that would have offered only seasonal protection. Over the years, we looked at the building (Orangerie) and thought, 'We could do something with it.'"

The Orangerie, unused for its original purpose for decades, offered vast open spaces. "In recent times, it had been used for storage," Clark said. "It still had a dirt floor."

The renovation project has carefully preserved, expanded and modernized the structure that, when complete, will feature a visual artists studio, rehearsal and gallery areas and performance space that can accommodate 196 audience members. An expansive outdoor patio was added to the building.

The design incorporates some original elements, including the Orangerie's massive entry doors, but a retrofit will result in a net-zero and LEED platinum building. When open, it will have the first gender-neutral bathroom in the Town of Mount Pleasant.

Kelly expects programming to include film, live performance, dance, exhibitions from the artist-in-residence program, as well as new exhibitions that incorporate pieces from the collections at Kykuit. Guests will also find opportunities to see artist's work in progress, take part in talk-backs, salons and more.

"It really is an opportunity to view the creative process," she said.  "And our artists-in-residence program will be an incubator for the project."

Programming will include a mix of free and ticketed events that will take place year round. It will include free access to the gallery — visitors will need to register in advance for a ticketed time slot – as well as some ticketed events and educational opportunities. The full schedule will be available later this summer.

The founders have been purposeful in their goals to be a community resource by partnering with local arts organizations and schools. An upcoming performance called Story Collider, for example, will be offered in Spanish. Kelly said the center will also provide free transportation for some programming. "The Bee-Line bus doesn't come here," she said, "so we have able to provide transportation to populations who couldn't otherwise access our programs."

"We are really building this for generations to come," added Clark. "That's the future."

For more information on summer programming through the Pocantico Center, go to rbf.org/pocantico. The Pocantico Center, and future David Rockefeller Center, are located at 200 Lake Road, Pocantico.

Karen Croke is the features editor for lohud.com and poughkeepsiejournal.com. Find my stories here. Reach me at kcroke1@lohud.com

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: David Rockefeller Center to open in October