Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild

Play-Off, a reading of a new play by Jason Wang
2026-06-28 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Super Bowl has begun, everyone is hyped and ready to watch. In this comedy-drama, old friends, and new friends, fight old battles, begin new ones, learn secrets and choose sides. Some still try to enjoy this one night event.

Jason Wang is a proud Connecticut native who often travels to New York City to catch new shows. Every time he steps into a theatre, he’s inspired by the creativity on stage—stories that make audiences laugh, cry, or feel a mix of both. After each show, Jason finds himself motivated to write something of his own, hoping one day to see his work performed Off-Broadway or on Broadway.
PURCHASE TICKETS

In partnership with Round The Bend Theatre — a mobile theater company with a mission to encourage Hudson Valley playwrights and their work in development. Through the process of inclusive readings and reflection, new voices are nurtured for future work.
Each play in the series will be read by professional actors, followed by a discussion with the playwright and audience.
Additional Round the Bend Theater productions at Byrdclffe Theater:
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 3 PM
The Dummies Guide to Murdering Your Husband, a reading of a new play by Nathan Johnson
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 3 PM
Play-Off, a reading of a new play by Jason Wang
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 3 PM
Loving Vivian, a new musical by Timothy Brown and Daniel Chadwick
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, July 26, 2026, 3 PM
The Goodness Robot, a reading of a new play by Paul Allman
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 3 PM
Let There Be, a reading of a new play by Stephen Kaplan
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, August 23, 2026, 3 PM
Julia C, a reading of a new play by Daniel Pink
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last day for Flock: 2026 Artists-in-Residence Exhibition
2026-06-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
This is the last day to view and purchase work from Flock: 2026 Artists-in-Residence exhibition. The 2026 Artists in Residence (A.i.R.) exhibition presents the work of the Byrdcliffe 2025 Artists-in-Residents. In a world that prioritizes production, residency programs offer a place for artists to generate ideas, experiment at their own pace, and, most of all, reflect on their practice. This exhibition and Showcase presents work representing a wide variety of creative practice across the board of visual, literary and performing arts inspired by their 2025 Residency season.

The Dummies Guide to Murdering Your Husband, a reading of a new play by Nathan Johnson
2026-06-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
PURCHASE TICKETS
A pair of filthy rich and disgruntled husbands escape for a romantic getaway in a remote mountain cabin unaware that each has hatched a plot to murder the other. If you’ve ever loved someone so much but still thought, “I could murder him”—welcome home.
Nathan Johnson is a queer performer/playwright/artist. He was a finalist for the Dramatists Guild Fellowship and the Primary Stages Echoes Writing Group, a recipient of the National Queer Theatre-WIO Fellowship, winner of the Meanwhile Park Playwriting Prize, and Recipient of the Primary Stages Louise Rockwell Scholarship. His plays have been performed and/or received finalist positions at The SAUK, American Stage, The Artistic Home, Best Medicine Rep, B-Street Theatre, The Chain Theatre, The Magnetic Theatre, and many others. As an actor, he’s worked in off Broadway, television, and film (My Big Gay Italian Wedding, The Party planner with David Tutera, One Life to Live). MFA: Columbia University.
PURCHASE TICKETS

In partnership with Round The Bend Theatre — a mobile theater company with a mission to encourage Hudson Valley playwrights and their work in development. Through the process of inclusive readings and reflection, new voices are nurtured for future work.
Each play in the series will be read by professional actors, followed by a discussion with the playwright and audience.
Additional Round the Bend Theater productions at Byrdclffe Theater:
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 3 PM
The Dummies Guide to Murdering Your Husband, a reading of a new play by Nathan Johnson
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 3 PM
Play-Off, a reading of a new play by Jason Wang
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 3 PM
Loving Vivian, a new musical by Timothy Brown and Daniel Chadwick
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, July 26, 2026, 3 PM
The Goodness Robot, a reading of a new play by Paul Allman
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 3 PM
Let There Be, a reading of a new play by Stephen Kaplan
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday, August 23, 2026, 3 PM
Julia C, a reading of a new play by Daniel Pink
PURCHASE TICKETS | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Open Studios: Artists-in-Residence Summer Session I
2026-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Villetta Inn @ Byrdcliffe Colony, 3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Byrdcliffe welcomes the public to the first of four Artists-in-Residence Summer Open Studios for 2026. This event is free and open to all! For a map of participating artists, location of studios, and performance line up – Go to Villetta Inn (3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY.)
Celebrate the creative work of Byrdcliffe’s Artists-in-Residence. With map in hand, meet the artists, see their studios, and experience work in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, writing, sound, and more, all amidst Byrdcliffe’s historic campus nestled in the Catskill mountains. Some artist works will be available for sale.
For a map of participating artists, location of studios, and performance line up – Go to Villetta Inn (3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY.)
Studios open 1 – 4 pm; readings and performances 4 – 5 pm at Byrdcliffe Theatre. This event is free and open to all!
Open Studio dates for 2026:
Session I: June 13
Session II: July 18
Session III: August 22
Session IV: September 26
Come early and step inside White Pines, the original home of Byrdcliffe’s founders Ralph and Jane Whitehead, with Byrdcliffe Historian Henry T. Ford and discover how this 1902 utopian arts and crafts colony began. Purchase tickets for the White Pines tour.

Tour of White Pines
2026-06-13 12:00 - 13:00 | White Pines @ Byrdcliffe Colony, 454 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Purchase tickets for June 13 group tour
Step inside White Pines, the original home of Byrdcliffe’s founders, Ralph and Jane Whitehead, and discover how this 1902 utopian Arts and Crafts colony began.
Group Tours
The Group Tour includes a guided tour of White Pines home and a Self-Guided Walking Tour & History Map of the Byrdcliffe Colony Campus that you can use either before or after your White Pines Tour.
$15 Byrdcliffe Members
$20 Not-Yet-Members
Additional group tour dates:
June 13, 2026: purchase tickets
July 18, 2026: purchase tickets
August 22, 2026: purchase tickets
September 26, 2026: purchase tickets
Private Tours
If you cannot make a scheduled Group Tour, or would like to gather some friends for a special occasion, we offer a Private Tour of White Pines scheduled at your convenience for $250. To schedule a tour, please email info@woodstockguild.org

Artists-in-Residence Open Studios
Visit with our Artists-in-Residence during Open Studios immediately following your tour. With map in hand, meet the artists, see their studios, and experience work in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, writing, filmmakers, animators, and more.

Artists-in-Residence Literary Artists & Performers Presentation
2026-05-24 15:00 - 16:30 | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Join us as we welcome back Artists-in-Residence from our 2025 season who will share work created during their residency. The 2025 Artists-in-Residence Literary Artists & Performers Presentation will feature literary artists, musicians, and performance artists who attended Byrdcliffe’s Artists-in-Residence program during the 2025 season.
Flock, visual work by our 2025 Artists-in-Residence program will be on exhibition at the Kleinert James Gallery in downtown Woodstock from May 24 – June 21, 2026.

Flock: 2026 Artists-in-Residence Exhibition opens to the public
2026-05-24 12:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
The 2026 Artists in Residence (A.i.R.) exhibition presents the work of the Byrdcliffe 2025 Artists-in-Residents. In a world that prioritizes production, residency programs offer a place for artists to generate ideas, experiment at their own pace, and, most of all, reflect on their practice. This exhibition and Showcase presents work representing a wide variety of creative practices of visual, literary and performing arts inspired by their 2025 Residency season.
On exhibition: 24 May – 21 June, 2026
Gallery hours: Friday – Sunday, 12-5 PM

Ceramics: All Levels Wheel Throwing class begins
2026-05-13 | Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Wednesdays, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
May 13 – June 24 (7 weeks)
Instructor: Rich Conti
Advanced registration is required to attend class
Register here
This class is designed for beginners, novice potters, and self-guided learners. If you’re new to the potter’s wheel, you’ll learn to center clay and master the basics of throwing pottery. Those with prior experience will have the opportunity to refine their skills and explore creating cups, bowls, vases, plates, or anything else you can imagine. The class includes demonstrations on making handles, lids, knobs, and spouts. All work will be fired in a gas kiln to stoneware temperatures in a reduction atmosphere.

Ceramics: Beginner/Intermediate Wheel Throwing class begins
2026-05-13 | Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
May 13 – June 24 (7 weeks)
Byrdcliffe Barn
Instructor: Rich Conti
Advanced registration is required to attend class
Register here
This class will teach new students the basic skills to make pottery and reenforce skills to people who have had some experience and are looking to gain the confidence to make larger more complex pottery. People with no experience will focus on centering and making bowls and cylinders. Intermediate students will hone their skills working on shaping and additions of handles lids knobs and spouts. We will then learn how to glaze and understand the firing process.

Ceramics: Intermediate & Advanced Soda Firing class begins
2026-05-12 | Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Tuesdays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
May 12 – June 23 (7 weeks)
Advanced registration is required to attend class
Register here
Soda firing is an atmospheric process that creates unique and unpredictable effects as soda ash vapors react with the clay and glaze at high temperatures. This class will cover the materials and techniques required to prepare for a soda firing. The kiln will be shared equally among participants, and students will also have the option to fire their work in gas reduction

Ceramics: All Levels Wheel Throwing class begins
2026-05-12 | Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
May 12 – June 23 (7 weeks)
Instructor: Rich Conti
Tuesdays, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
May 12 – June 23 (7 weeks)
Instructor: Rich Conti
Advanced registration is required to attend class
Register here
This class is designed for beginners, novice potters, and self-guided learners. If you’re new to the potter’s wheel, you’ll learn to center clay and master the basics of throwing pottery. Those with prior experience will have the opportunity to refine their skills and explore creating cups, bowls, vases, plates, or anything else you can imagine. The class includes demonstrations on making handles, lids, knobs, and spouts. All work will be fired in a gas kiln to stoneware temperatures in a reduction atmosphere.

Last day for byCONTRAST exhibition
2026-05-10 12:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
Last opportunity to view and purchase work from the quilt exhibition byCONTRAST
Quilt traditions abound in all cultures, and this exhibition is a testament to the complexity and beauty of this important art form. With vibrant, varied fabrics and small stitches, an exhibition of contemporary artist quilts comes to Byrdcliffe in partnership with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA).
Thirty SAQA fiber artists created work exploring contrasts found in everyday expressions. The selected entries examine seemingly contradictory or incongruous figures of speech used for dramatic, humorous, or ironic effect. The show was curated by fiber artist Ann Johnston, whose experimentation with dye and fabric has led to numerous exhibitions worldwide, including over twenty solo exhibits and multiple publications.

byCONTRAST Artist Talk & Reception
2026-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
Meet the artists! Join us for a walk and talk of the quilt exhibition byCONTRAST. Artist reception to follow.
in partnership with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
Quilt traditions abound in all cultures, and this exhibition is a testament to the complexity and beauty of this important art form. Thirty SAQA fiber artists created work exploring contrasts found in everyday expressions. The selected entries examine seemingly contradictory or incongruous figures of speech used for dramatic, humorous, or ironic effect. The show was curated by fiber artist Ann Johnston, whose experimentation with dye and fabric has led to numerous exhibitions worldwide, including over twenty solo exhibits and multiple publications.

byCONTRAST exhibition opens
2026-04-18 | Kleinert James Gallery
On exhibit 18 April – 10 May
Gallery hours: Friday – Sunday, 12 – 5 PM
in partnership with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
Quilt traditions abound in all cultures, and this exhibition is a testament to the complexity and beauty of this important art form. Thirty SAQA fiber artists created work exploring contrasts found in everyday expressions. The selected entries examine seemingly contradictory or incongruous figures of speech used for dramatic, humorous, or ironic effect. The show was curated by fiber artist Ann Johnston, whose experimentation with dye and fabric has led to numerous exhibitions worldwide, including over twenty solo exhibits and multiple publications.

Jewelry & Metalworking class begins
2026-04-15 | Byrdcliffe Jewelry Studio, 17 Whitehead Road, Woodstock, 12498, United States
Wednesdays, 2 – 5 pm
April 15 – May 20 (6 weeks – April 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 13, 20)
SPRING SESSION IS SOLD OUT
Byrdcliffe offers an exciting program of courses and workshops in Metalwork and Jewelry design and creation at the Jewelry Studio on the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony.
SPRING SESSION IS SOLD OUT

All the All: 2026 Byrdcliffe Members' Show
2026-02-27 12:00 - 2026-04-12 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
2026 Annual Members’ Show, All the All. This year’s theme is inspired by Shakespeare’s Sonnet 31 and celebrates Byrdcliffe’s creative community. Additional information

Spotlight on Ceramics: A Retail Pop Up
2026-02-06 12:00 - 2026-02-08 17:00 | Kleinert James Gallery
January 23-25, 12-5 PM
January 30-February 1, 12-5 PM
February 6-February 8, 12-5 PM

To accommodate the snowstorm close, we are extending the retail pop up, giving you one more weekend to discover or revisit the work of Byrdcliffe artist-in-residence Gwyneth Scally and browse a selection of ceramics books in our cozy reading nook.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Byrdcliffe’s contemporary ceramics program, throughout 2026 we will be focusing a spotlight on ceramics. First up, the Shop will feature a selection of Byrdcliffe’s Artist in Residence Gwyneth Scally’s sculptural and functional ceramics.

Gwyneth Scally lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She received her MFA from the University of Arizona and has developed her practice traveling and training acrossLatin America, Europe, Northern Africa, New York, Los Angeles, China, Newfoundland and the Black Sea of Bulgaria.

Time spent in rural and wild places around the globe cultivated an interest in nature and ecological issues; Scally explores issues of displacement, nostalgia, and the Sublime, while suggesting deeper issues of an environmental order overturned. Her current work addresses the legacies of Classicism and Romanticism in our concepts of nature and national identity.
Scally has received numerous fellowships, scholarships and awards, and has participated in 80 international exhibitions. She has attended several artists’ residencies around the world, and most recently participated in Byrdcliffe’s AIR program, where she developed some of the work in this pop up retail exposition.

Jules Shear at the Byrdcliffe Theater
2025-12-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Experience an unforgettable evening with Jules Shear at the historic Byrdcliffe Theater!
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
World renowned singer–songwriter, Jules Shear, will take the stage for one night only at the historic Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, NY on Saturday December 6, 2024 at 8:00 pm. From iconic hits such as Cyndi Lauper’s “All Through the Night,” The Bangles’ “If She Knew What She Wants,” to Jules’ own pop hit, “Steady,” Jules Shear’s songwriting has left an indelible mark on the world of music.
In addition to his songwriting and performing, Jules Shear holds a special place in music history as the original host of the groundbreaking series, MTV Unplugged. For the first 13 episodes, Jules set the stage for intimate and raw performances that became a cultural phenomenon.
The historic Byrdcliffe Theater provides the perfect backdrop for this extraordinary evening. Nestled amidst the majestic surroundings of the Byrdcliffe Art Colony, the theater exudes an ambiance that transports you to a bygone era, amplifying the magic of Jules Shear’s music.
photo by Dion Ogust

Concert at the Byrdcliffe Theater
380 Upper Byrdcliffe Road, Woodstock, NY
Doors open at 7:30 pm, concert at 8 pm with first-come seating.TICKETS: Purchase tickets

"26th Annual 5 by 7 Show"
2025-12-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Friday 5 December
26th Annual Fundraising Exhibition
Opening reception and preview sale
Be the first to preview and purchase artwork

First Dibs: 4-5 PM entry to sale
Preview: 5-7 PM entry to sale
Purchase advance tickets
Works available to general public at gallery and on-line
Saturday 6 December 12 PM

Join us for a First Dibs and Preview sale in advance of the show’s opening to the general public.
Advance tickets available here. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The Byrdcliffe 5 by 7 Show is one of Woodstock’s premier events showcasing artists from the Hudson Valley and beyond. 5″ x 7″ sized artworks – of various styles and media – are exhibited anonymously and sold for $150 each. The artist is revealed when the work is purchased.

Curator Tour: Sharing the Space
2025-11-22 15:00 - 16:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Sharing the Space
Hudson Valley contemporary photographers in dialogue with historic Byrdcliffe artists
Join Guest Curator Anne Arden McDonald and Byrdcliffe Resident Historian Henry T. Ford as they lead a Walk & Talk tour of our latest exhibition.

The Walk & Talk is free, but there is limited space, so please reserve a spot by emailing info@woodstockguild.org with Curator Tour in the subject line.

Since the artist-founders of Byrdcliffe landed in Woodstock in1902, artists have sought refuge in the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. This exhibition brings together historic landscape paintings from the Byrdcliffe collection, in a dialogue across time with landscape photographs from contemporary photographers, all sharing the space of the Hudson Valley.

Bowls! Bowls! Bowls! – Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio Pottery Sale
2025-11-08 09:30 - 2025-11-09 15:00 | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Mark your calendars today and make plans to join us for the Byrdcliffe Ceramics Studio Pottery sale at the historic Byrdcliffe Theatre in Woodstock, NY.
First Dibs Party: Friday November 7, 2025, 4:30 -8:30
Music, food, drinks and shopping ahead of the sale on Saturday and Sunday
Tickets $40 includes food, drinks and live music
Tickets $15 after 7:00 includes music and drinks
Purchase tickets to the First Dibs Party here
Saturday, November 8, 2025, and Sunday, November 9, 2025, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Admission to Saturday and Sunday’s event is free
Sponsor our event
Become an event Hero, Angel or sponsor and play an essential role in helping us reach our goal of expanding ceramics classes and workshops at Byrdcliffe. Plus receive priority tickets and early entry to our First Dibs party on Friday.
Hero $500 6 Tickets and priority first dibs entry at 4:00
Angel $250 4 Tickets and priority first dibs entry at 4:00
Patron $150 2 Tickets and priority first dibs entry at 4:00
Become a sponsor of Bowls Bowls Bowls today

"Sharing the Space" opening reception
2025-10-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Hudson Valley contemporary photographers in dialogue with historic Byrdcliffe artists.
Additional information.

Byrdcliffe Artists-in-Residence Open Studios - Session 4
2025-09-27 13:00 - 17:00 | Villetta Inn @ Byrdcliffe Colony, 3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
The Artists-in-Residence at the Byrdcliffe welcomes the public to the fourth of four Summer Open Studios for 2025.
Come celebrate the creative work of our artists-in-residence. With map in hand, meet the artists, see their studios, and experience work in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, writing, sound, and more, all amidst Byrdcliffe’s historic campus nestled in the Catskill mountains.
For a map of participating artists, location of studios, and performance line up – Go to Villetta Inn (3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY.)
Studios open 1 – 4 pm; readings and performances 4 – 5 pm at Byrdcliffe Theatre. This event is free and open to all!
Come early and step inside White Pines, the original home of Byrdcliffe’s founders Ralph and Jane Whitehead, with Byrdcliffe Historian Henry T. Ford and discover how this 1902 utopian arts and crafts colony began.
Meet on the front porch of White Pines (454 Upper Byrdcliffe Road, Woodstock, NY) at noon; suggested donation, $10.

Home

Open house at Byrdcliffe Colony - Tour Historic White Pines
2025-09-27 12:00 - 13:00 | White Pines @ Byrdcliffe Colony, 454 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Step inside White Pines, the original home of Byrdcliffe’s founders Ralph and Jane Whitehead, with Byrdcliffe Historian Henry T. Ford and discover how this 1902 utopian arts and crafts colony began.
Meet on the front porch of White Pines (454 Upper Byrdcliffe Road, Woodstock, NY) at noon; suggested donation, $10.
Afterwards, the Artists-in-Residence at the Byrdcliffe welcomes the public to the fourth of four Summer Open Studios.
Come celebrate the creative work of our artists-in-residence. With map in hand, meet the artists, see their studios, and experience work in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, writing, sound, and more, all amidst Byrdcliffe’s historic campus nestled in the Catskill mountains.
For a map of participating artists, location of studios, and performance line up – Go to Villetta Inn (3 Upper Byrdcliffe Way, Woodstock, NY.)
Studios open, 1 – 4 pm; readings and performances, 4 – 5 pm at Byrdcliffe Theatre. This event is free and open to all!

New Director Welcome and screening of "Worst Possible Illusion: The Curiosity Cabinet of Vik Muniz"
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Byrdcliffe Theatre, 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
* RSVP for the September 25th event here
* please note that this is a free event, but you must RSVP to attend
If you can’t make the event please consider a donation
For additional information about Vik Muniz click here

Worst Possible Illusion: The Curiosity Cabinet of Vik Muniz

Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz’ work lives at the intersection of Sesame Street and Andy Warhol’s factory. Muniz uses charm, bulldozers, chocolate sauce, and chartered planes to create and explain his celebrated conceptual art.
“…this is the best possible film about a process that is part magic, part laughter…” – Joan Juliet Buck, Vogue Magazine

Byrdcliffe is marking a defining moment as we welcome Anne-Marie Russell as our new Executive Director following a national search. Anne-Marie is widely respected for her dynamic and inclusive arts leadership serving artists, art history and historic preservation, often re-animating historic properties with cultural programming.
We’re thrilled Anne-Marie is joining us at a time of real momentum. Her experience building arts organizations and championing artists is precisely what Byrdcliffe needs as we approach our 125th anniversary.
Please join us as we welcome Anne-Marie to our community on Thursday September 25th where she will present a brief talk and film that shares her experience supporting artists and creative communities.

About Anne-Marie Russell
Anne-Marie has spent the last 20 years in and around the artworld and describes her primary role as “support staff for artists”. As the Inaugural Executive Director of the Sarasota Art Museum in Florida, she led the transformation of a dormant 1926 school into a thriving center for contemporary art, spearheading a $30 million creative campus and building broad community engagement. In Arizona, Russell reimagined MOCA Tucson as its Director and Curator, transforming a landmark William Wilde building into a dynamic cultural space, fostering national recognition for vibrant contemporary art programming.
Her background includes documentary filmmaking, leading arts-technology initiatives, and pioneering graduate art market education. She has produced and directed films on prominent artists including Vik Muniz and Salvatore Scarpitta, co-founded an arts technology company and developed Christie’s M.A. program in connoisseurship. She has curated projects with major artists such as Odili Donald Odita, Sheila Hicks, Daniel Lind Ramos, Carlos Bunga, Janaina Tschäpe, Olivier Mosset, Alex Hay, and Jean Shin—often championing early-career talent. Renowned for her interdisciplinary public programs, she connects artists and thought leaders to inspire communities with fresh perspectives. She is delighted and honored to be joining the Byrdcliffe community.

Opening reception for "Crossing Over | Nancy Azara"
2025-09-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
CROSSING OVER – an exhibition featuring the sculptures, paintings, and prints of the late feminist artist Nancy Azara (1930-2024), and encaustic paintings by her widow, Darla Bjork. Based in New York City and Woodstock, NY, both artists’ works have been characterized by expressive, gestural use of materials and iconic imagery. Nancy Azara curated numerous exhibitions for Byrdcliffe, including Lily: Loosely Seen (2003), Paths: Real and Imagined (2007), Eccentric Portraits (2011), and HAND/MADE: The Digital Age and The Industrial Revolution (2015). Work will be on exhibit Saturday, September 20, 2025 thru Sunday, October 13, 2025. A public reception will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 4-6 PM.

"Salvage Stories" Closing reception and Ken Bulter music performance
2025-09-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
The exhibition,”Salvage Stories | Seven Sculptors”, closes with a reception for the artists and a special musical performance by Ken Butler at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts on Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM with music from 3:00 – 4:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

ABOUT KEN BUTLER
Ken Butler is a musician-artist. Recombining disassociated found objects, he constructs – and often performs on innovative musical instruments, transforming our useless waste into objects of whimsy, joy, and rhythmic musicality.

ABOUT SALVAGE STORIES
Curated by Alice Zinnes and Carol Diamond, Salvage Stories | Seven Sculptors features work by Eric Banks, Ken Butler, Carol Diamond, Bonny Leibowitz, Shari Mendelson, Shivani Patel, and Mark Van Wagner. Each artist transforms the mundane trash of contemporary society into sculpture that brings the long-forgotten stories of human refuse into the poignant personal stories of the artist, and in the process, turns the ashes of our manmade world into poignant works of art.

Sylvia Bullett: Art Songs
2025-09-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Composer/pianist Sylvia Bullett performs a song cycle of original art songs
purchase tickets for “Sylvia Bullett: Art Songs”
The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild is pleased to welcome the Hudson Valley’s Sylvia Bullett for an evening of art songs at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts.
Raised in the Catskills, Sylvia moved to NYC in the 80’s and formed bands playing at CBGB, The Continental Divide, and the Pyramid opening for the Tom Tom Club and the B-52’s. She returned to Woodstock, NY, working at Dreamland Recording Studios and had a running gig at the Joyous Lake while she worked extensively on recording in her home studio.
Over the years, Sylvia has worked and recorded with two members of iconic band “Television” – Fred Smith and Richard Lloyd; Adam Widoff; Dan Hickey; David Van Tieghem; and Cindy Cashdollar among others. She has released five studio albums and is currently working on her sixth. Her latest single, “Love Strong,” was released in June 2025.
Tickets: $20 WBG members | $25 not-yet-members | $25 at door
purchase tickets for “Sylvia Bullett: Art Songs”

Celebrate Byrdcliffe
2025-09-06 16:00 - 18:30 | Byrdcliffe Barn, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Join us for Woodstock Byrdcliffe’s annual celebration and fundraiser, Celebrate Byrdcliffe! Gather with others in the community for a fun-filled afternoon of food, libations, a silent auction, and a live performance by Brian Mitchell.
This year we are honoring Arts Executive, Historic Preservationist and Architectural Enthusiast Benjamin Prosky and artists Portia Munson and Jared Handelsman.

This event will be held at the Byrdcliffe Barn, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Rd, Woodstock, NY

PRICING –
– Tickets $150 each. ($105 is tax deductible)
Purchase tickets
Your support of Celebrate Byrdcliffe helps ensure that Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild continues to inspire artists, preserves a unique historic arts setting, and contributes to the arts in the Hudson Valley, nationally, and internationally. To pledge additional support:
– SPONSORSHIP –
1). $250 (1 ticket to the event) — $205 is tax deductible
2). $500 (2 tickets to the event) — $410 is tax deductible
3). $1000 (a reserved table for 4) — $820 is tax deductible
Sponsorships of $500+ will have their name or business logos listed on our website and other materials
Unable to attend Celebrate Byrdcliffe? DONATE WHAT YOU WISH
Sponsor an Artist: ARTIST RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS

2025 HONOREES

BENJAMIN PROSKY grew up between Brooklyn and Woodstock. A third generation Woodstocker, his family established roots in the village in 1942, drawn then as now to Woodstock’s beauty, culture, and diverse artistic community, which owes so much to the legacy of Byrdcliffe. About 15 years ago Ben had the pleasure of joining the Byrdcliffe board, on which he served for nine years. His time on the board was formative and enriching; further instilling a life-long love of Byrdcliffe and the Woodstock Community. In his professional life, Ben has been fortunate to serve in several leadership roles at prestigious institutions. With a degree in Urban Studies from Vassar College, followed by graduate work in Urban Planning at Columbia University, Prosky has devoted his career to a range of projects dedicated to the promotion and interpretation of architecture and urbanism.
In 2023 Ben was named President of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation whose mission is to advance education, stewardship and innovation in historic preservation through the support of scholars, educators, curators and crafts people. He has held prior leadership roles at several institutions, serving as Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects New York and the Center for Architecture; as Assistant Dean for Communications at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and Director of Special Events and External Affairs at Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. In earlier roles at international museums and cultural institutions, such as the Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal, Canada, and the Institute français d’architecture in Paris, France, his work focused on developing public educational programs and exhibitions. Like previous generations of his family, Ben divides his time between Woodstock and Brooklyn, along with his husband, Jozef and daughter, Maeve.

PORTIA MUNSON creates maximal installations, sculptures, paintings, and digital prints using a vast accumulation of ready-made products to decipher the latent cultural codes embedded in mass-produced items. The resulting works emphasize the role of consumerism on the formation of identity and the resulting connection between the ongoing struggle for gender equality, reproductive rights, and the dire ecological crisis.
Munson lives and works in Catskill, NY. She holds a BFA from Cooper Union, an MFA from Rutgers University, and studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Her work has been the subject of over twenty solo exhibitions at the Museum of Sex, New York, NY; P·P·O·W, New York, NY; White Columns, New York, NY; MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA; Pamela Salisbury Gallery, Hudson, NY; and Art Omi, Ghent, NY, among others. Her public works include Pink Projects with the Art Production Fund, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY; Art in the Terminal, the Albany International Airport, Albany, NY; MTA Arts for Transit, Bryant Park MTA Station, New York, NY; and a permanent Metropolitan Transit Authority installation in Brooklyn, NY. Portia Munson is represented by PPOW gallery in NYC.

JARED HANDELSMAN is a visual artist based in Catskill, New York whose artistic practice of over thirty years includes land based site specific works, found object sculptures, landscape photograms and videos and photographs that explore the nature of light. Jared has made sculptures suspending boulders and slabs of rock over their place in the forest, video and photographs made inside a treehouse camera obscura, photograms with flashlights, car headlights and moonlight and videos and photographs documenting interior solar landscape projections.
Jared was educated at Vassar College, where he received a BA in Philosophy and at Rutgers University, Mason Gross school of Art, receiving an MFA. He also attended Cranbrook Academy of Art. Jared has received fellowships from Yaddo and MacDowell Colonies, from The Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown and from Vassar College.

ABOUT BRIAN MITCHELL

BRIAN MITCHELL has worked with artists such as Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble Band, Bob Dylan, BB King, Al Green, Dolly Parton, Buster Poindexter, and Allen Toussaint. Mitchell has appeared on five Grammy Award-winning recordings, three with Levon Helm, and one each with BB King and with Les Paul. In 2015, Brian was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. He is known to have versatility on piano, Hammond B-3 organ, accordion, various vintage keyboards and harmonica, plus his distinct vocal stylings. Mitchell believed that music is life music can heal people
Mitchell is a native New Yorker and is a part of Manhattan’s competitive live music scene. Known for kicking out high-energy performances, Mitchell’s music “features a unique blend of gutbucket blues, funky New Orleans style R&B, quirky Latin rhythms, and occasional visits into outer space.”

CELEBRATE BYRDCLIFFE 2025 SPONSORS

The Badner – Falcon Family
Kerrie Buitrago and Oscar Buitrago
Henry T. Ford and Michael Knauth
Sam Freed and Dee Hoty
Douglas C. James Charitable Trust
Suzannah Kellner
Floyd Lattin and Ward Mintz
Katharine L. McKenna
Catherine McNeal
The Prosky Family
Benjamin Prosky and Jozef Sulik
Alice Tisch
Melissa Cowley Wolf of MCW Projects LLC

Women Sculpture Group Walkthrough of SALVAGE STORIES exhibition
2025-08-31 14:00 - 16:00 | Kleinert-James Gallery, 34 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Join us for a gallery walkthrough hosted by the Women Sculptor Group (WSG) in collaboration with the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, of the current exhibition, Salvage Stories: Seven Sculptors, co-curated by Alice Zinnes and Carol Diamond. This special sculpture show features artworks by Eric Banks, Ken Butler, Carol Diamond, Bonny Leibowitz, Shari Mendelson, Shivani Patel, and Mark Van Wagner.
Exhibiting artists Carol Diamond, Shivani Patel, Shari Mendelson, and Eric Banks, will be present to speak about their work, together with co-curator Alice Zinnes as moderator.
Panel Artists: Carol Diamond, Shari Mendelson, Shivani Patel, Eric Banks in conversation with co-curator Alice Zinnes

About Salvage Stories: Seven Sculptors: Seven artists transform the mundane detritus of contemporary society into sculpture that takes on new life from upcycled materials. Curated by Alice Zinnes and Carol Diamond. Exhibition Catalogue.

About the Women Sculptor Group: The Women Sculptor Group is a NY-based organization that supports women sculptors by attending shows, doing walk-throughs, and sponsoring open calls and exhibition events.
