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Community Corner

Three of Westchester's Most Acclaimed Cultural Institutions Join Forces to form "Cultural Katonah"

THREE OF WESTCHESTER’S MOST ACCLAIMED CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS JOIN FORCES TO FORM “CULTURAL KATONAH,”


A TRIPLE ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE THE AREA AS WORLD CLASS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB

“No one can whistle a symphony,” the saying goes. “It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” And to achieve the crucial goal of attracting a greater number of people to Katonah’s renowned cultural offerings it requires nothing less than a group effort by a dream team. Cultural Katonah, the newly-formed partnership of Jay Street sites the Katonah Museum of Art, John Jay Homestead
and Caramoor, is embracing its mission as an alliance with a commitment to
collaborations through themed events, lectures and family programming. The goal is to promote cultural tourism along Katonah’s “Museum Mile” not only among local communities but farther afield to Connecticut, Long Island and Manhattan

Each institution will complement Cultural Katonah’s strategic vision as a platform for art, music and historical scholarship that moves across all disciplines both indoors and on their magnificent grounds. Says John Jay Homestead Executive Director Wendy Ross, “The partnership plays to the strengths of each organization. Rather than viewing ourselves as individual ponds, we can, on occasion, be part of a big stream that flows through Katonah with a strong current of complementary activities.”

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Every season, each of the three cultural institutions will present a program on a
shared theme.  First up, in March 2014, Cultural Katonah presents American
Icons, a lecture series that celebrates outstanding figures that made immeasurable contributions to American history, visual art and music. On Tuesday, March 11, 7:00 pm at John Jay Homestead Philip Kunhardt will discuss young Abraham Lincoln in “What Makes a Transformative Life?”   On Wednesday, April 2, 7:00 pm at the Katonah Museum of Art, new KMA Executive Director Darsie Alexander will present “Jasper Johns, In Time with Merce Cunningham,” about a fascinating chapter when the artist was artistic director of the legendary dance company. Finally, on Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 pm in the Caramoor Music Room, Richard Kogan, MD, will deliver “The Mind and Music of George Gershwin,” an exploration of the psychological factors and psychiatric illnesses that influenced the creative output of the composer. The program will include short performances of Gershwin’s music. Comments KMA Interim Executive Director Belinda Roth, “Through joint programs like the American Icon series, Cultural Katonah will help expand each organization's audience. A visitor who may have been first drawn to art will discover that within a mile there’s outstanding music and American history. It's a natural partnership that will grow in exciting and unexpected ways."

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There was something of a trial run of Cultural Katonah in last November’s “Familiar Faces: A Portrait Tour of Katonah’s Cultural Gems.” Inspired by the KMA’s fall exhibition “Eye to I…3,000 Years of Portraits,” the community was invited to join an organized caravan to all three organizations to see portrait masterpieces and enjoy lunch in Caramoor’s Summer dining room. Recalls Wendy Ross, “Since the Homestead has its own art treasures, including John Singer Sargent and Gilbert Stuart portraits and a Houdon bust, it was only natural we’d participate. We knew instantly working together was a good idea, because “Familiar Faces” sold out immediately.”

As cultural institutions and historic sites vie for the attention of increasingly
busy, media-saturated individuals, Cultural Katonah has the advantage of cross-promotion, multiple points of view and triple-strength teamwork. “Creativity and inspiration don’t happen in a vacuum, but are the result of incredible synergy among people, ideas and place,” says Caramoor’s Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Haydon. “We’re also so very lucky to be in such a vibrant community.  Cultural Katonah is the start of a broader conversation with an audience that’s truly thirsty for inspiring experiences.”

For tickets, please call the appropriate institution where the program will take
place. KMA (914.232.9555), Friends of John Jay Homestead (914.232.8119), and Caramoor 914.232.1252).

Ticket Prices: $20 members of KMA, Friends of John Jay Homestead, and Caramoor; $25 non-members; Free for students (limited availability).

About the Katonah Museum of Art

The Katonah Museum of Art (KMA), located at 134 Jay Street (Route 22) in Katonah, NY, is a cultural destination offering changing exhibitions that feature art from all cultures and time periods. The KMA offers lectures, workshops,
concerts and other events for a general audience, as well as innovative and
substantive programs for over 100 member schools. The KMA mounts ten
exhibitions per year in its main galleries, Sculpture Garden, and Learning
Center. Influential modernist architect Edward Larrabee Barnes designed the
10,000 square-foot building. Located at the northern end of Katonah’s “Museum
Mile” just off of Route 22, and neighboring John Jay Homestead and Caramoor,
the Katonah Museum of Art is a two minute taxi ride from the Katonah Metro
North train station.

The KMA offers lectures, workshops, concerts and other events for a general
audience, as well as innovative and substantive programs for over 100 member
schools. The Learning Center is an interactive space where children can come on a daily basis to explore and create art. 


About Caramoor

World renowned for its Summer Music Festival, Caramoor’s offerings now include concerts and special events year-round. These take place or include the 220 seat Music Room of the Historic Rosen House at Caramoor which is listed on the National Register of historic places. Most events include a tour of the Rosen House, showcasing a vast collection of fine and decorative arts.

About John Jay Homestead State Historic Site

John Jay Homestead State Historic Site is both a local gem and national treasure. Nestled in the rolling Westchester countryside is the gracious home and farm of John Jay (1745-1829), one of America's principal Founding Fathers, which includes twelve beautifully furnished period rooms. A visit to the Homestead today is an opportunity to increase one’s knowledge and enthusiasm for history, to contemplate the principles upon which America was founded, and to learn about farm life in the 19th century. John Jay was the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the second governor of New York State. Jay co-authored the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and the Federalist Papers, which aided ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and he served as President of the Continental Congress, and as the U.S. Secretary for Foreign Affairs.


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