Fawn Brown, our 2026 Indigenous Artist in Residence, will be exhibiting a series of small-scale paintings depicting local flora, fauna, and landscapes, incorporating beadwork and softer surfaces created during her on site Artist Residency.

This body of work expands on Brown’s previous practice of painting on wood while introducing a more tactile and fluid visual language. Alongside the artworks, Brown will read from the field journal that she plans to produce, documenting each subject, including names in English, Cherokee, and Munsee (when able). These notes, paired with the finished works, will come together to reflect a kinship between Indigenous
communities across geographically distant regions. Please join us!

Here is a link to an interview with Fawn Brown by local writer, artist, and graphic novelist, Elizabeth Mami: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GeawBoIbX5YCTpJj1YIjnu0g3g8Y9fAI/view?usp=drivesdk

Show BRUNEL PARK some LOVE! Join us on Saturday May 2 from 10am to 12:30pm (Rain Date: May 3, 2026).

Gardeners choice: You can help us with some or all of these tasks - whatever gets your juices flowing! We will be chopping down brush on the hillside facing Route 28 to clear the view to the sculptures; planting out small potted trees and shrubs; composting and mulching fruit trees; pulling out invasives - vinca, ivy, barberry; felling small trees to create more light for ephemerals; weeding; installing stone pavers around sculptures. Family Friendly Projects: Planting saplings from last year's 25 million tree event. They over wintered well and they are small enough for little hands. Register here: https://ptny.psee.io/8w2y92

What should volunteers bring?

Garden gloves, hats, sunscreen, insect spray, shovels, rakes, secateurs, wear boots or hiking shoes.

Location

Meet in the log cabin behind the totem poles facing Route 28 at DeSilva Road in Boiceville. The cabin entrance is around the back of the cabin. Park at Local Goods but not at the front door of the store please. Or take the free UCAT Z bus to DeSilva Road.

We hope to see you here on May 2nd!

There exists scattered throughout the valleys, forests and wooded uplands of Northeastern America, a large number of standing lithic structures that have mostly been ignored by conventional archaeologists and historians.

Often dismissed as stone walls and field clearing piles from early European and colonial era settlers, these formations are increasingly emerging as part of a Native American tradition of ritual building practices that reflected a sophisticated world view representing and defining a social and cultural belief system.

This multimedia presentation offers GIS, locational, and Geospatial data as evidence, revealing patterns based on the concentration and distribution of site locations on the landscape. A hike to a local site of interest will follow Glenn’s presentation (weather permitting).  Dress appropriately if you plan to hike with us!

Seating is limited. Reservations are a must. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at: Friends of Brunel Park or text Feel The Spirit to 44-321. Parking is in front of Local Goods or the Boiceville Inn.

Bio: Glenn Kreisberg is an author, radio engineer and NYS DEC outdoor guide who researches archaeoastronomy and landscape archaeology in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains of New York. He served two terms as 1st vice president of the New England Antiquities Research Association (NEARA), is co-founder of the non-profit Overlook Mountain Center in Woodstock, NY and has studied archaeoastronomy at State University of New York (SUNY) and archaeoacoustics on Malta, through the Old Temple Study Foundation (OTSF) and Heritage Malta.

Discover the story behind the mysterious statues along Route 28 in Boiceville at Brunel Park, a unique sculpture garden created by French artist and visionary Emile Brunel. This illustrated lecture explores Brunel’s life, his artistic legacy, and the enduring cultural and historic significance of the park. Participants will receive free brochures and deepen their appreciation for one of Ulster County’s hidden gems. Perfect for history buffs, artists, youth, and anyone curious about outsider art or local lore. Visit www.brunelpark.org or stop by daily from 1–5 p.m. to explore the site before or after the talk.

This event is free, but seating is limited—please reserve your spot in advance here:
https://ulstercountyhs.org/event/the-man-the-land-the-art-of-emile-brunel-1874-1944/

Location: Ulster County Historical Society

2682 U.S. 209 Kingston, New York 12401

Presented by Cynthia Nikitin, co-founder of Friends of Brunel Park and longtime community planner. For 30 years, Cynthia has pursued her passion for making better places in cities and towns around the world through her work with Project for Public Spaces. Most recently, she trained librarians from the Mid-Hudson and Ramapo/Catskill Library systems and the Sustainable Libraries Network to transform libraries into Resilience Hubs. She served for three years as Resilient Places Consultant with Sustainable Hudson Valley, and as a community planner with KaN Landscape Design based in Kingston, NY. She also served as a member of the Town of Olive's Critical Environmental Area planning committee and the Friends of the Catskill Mountain/Ashokan Rail Trail. 

See the art, walk the land, feel the spirit! Help us get Brunel Park ready for visitors - the human, insect, winged, and 4 to 6-legged kind. Then stay for a tour of our new soundscape installation of music composed specifically for our site, by local musician and sound artist, @Eve Joslyn Madalengoitia.

REGISTER

Follow this link to join our I Love My Park clean up event at Brunel Park:  

https://reg.resport.io/s/step1.jsp?r=5894021043978240 or simply reply to this email.

AGE APPROPRIATE - All ages welcome

VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BRING...

Your water bottle, garden gloves, rakes, collapsible leaf collection bins, hats, tick repellent, and a wheelbarrow if you have an extra one!

ADDITIONAL INFO

Parking is in front of Local Goods and along the side road up to Bread Alone.

Look for the log cabin and Totem Poles and Brunel Park signage.

Click  for information on: I Love My Park Day

Around 12:30, take a break and hang out with Eve Joslyn Madalengoitia as she introduces us to her new sound installation.

If you download the ECHOES App before you arrive, you can listen to the music during the clean up activities.

Click the link below for details:

https://www.evejoslyn.com/installation/brunelparkhowto 

Please help us by filling out the visitor survey here

This project is made possible with funds from the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

Celebrate Earth Day weekend and Spring’s reawakening at Brunel Sculpture Garden this Earth Day Weekend, when we will officially unveil our restored and rejuvenated statuary and totem poles, and welcome the return of our winged, feathered and four-legged friends to Brunel Park with the installation of Ecophilia Modern Habitats built by our neighbors, friends, area students, and the Girl Scouts from Troop 60059. 

We will continue to install animal habitats from 3 to 5 pm and welcome volunteers to help us.  We will then invite the community to enjoy refreshments while strolling the grounds, enjoying the musical offerings of Harpist Julia Haines, discovering the animal habitats, and marveling anew at Emile Brunel’s creations. 

A scavenger hunt will be available for our younger visitors.

 Donations are as always generously appreciated but not required. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-brunel-park-emile-brunel-studio-and-sculpture-park Or text FEELTHESPIRIT to 44-321.

Invite Friends via the Facebook Event

Rain date: Sunday April 21 - installation 1-3; opening reception 3-5 pm. Parking is along the side road in front of Local Goods and the Boiceville Inn, perpendicular to Route 28. Or take the free UCAT Z bus from Woodstock or Kingston to DeSilva Road in Boiceville.

Call 845-205-3839 for more information.

It's almost time to install Modern Habitats for Animals that Anyone Can Build!

On April 14:

2- 4pm Join the Scouts for a Volunteer Garden Clean Up

4-5 pm Walk & Talk, Habitat Siting with Del Orloske, Outdoor Educator with The Ashokan Center and Jake Wedemeyer, Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District.  

5 pm - Installation by Top Notch Tree Service begins!

Invite Friends via our Facebook Event

Donna Coane Lead of Spirit of Thunderheart and Brunel Park board trustee member invites you to welcome in the summer solstice with the Solstice ceremony. This is the time of the longest days of the year. We honor our eldest brother the sun, and celebrate the nourishment of energy he gives us and our plant life here on Turtle Island.

All are welcome! Then at 1pm Donna Coane welcomes all women to join her at the moon lodge, where we can raise each other up and share ceremony. We will be Covid-safe holding ceremony just outside of the lodge.

DIRECTIONS & PARKING
Brunel Park/Sculpture Garden is located at the intersection of DeSilva Road and State Route NY-28 in the Hamlet of Boiceville, Town of Olive, NY just west of Fabulous Furniture, Bread Alone, and the Boiceville Inn on Old Route 28, where parking is available, on the side road and across from - not in front of- the red wooden store. Access is via the turn off to Bread Alone.

OR You can ride the free UCAT Z Bus from Kingston to DeSilva Road in Boiceville.

Then a short walk uphill on the Brunel Park/Sculpture Garden driveway.

Hosts Cynthia and Eugene Nikitin will spirit guests around the sculpture garden to learn about their unique collection of native and non-native fruiting trees and vines and Japanese tree peonies, their origins, culinary use, and optimum growing conditions, all under the protective gaze of Emile Brunel's 40-foot-tall concrete totems and statuary. The history of the man who created these amazing sculptures of Le Chalet Indien Resort and the preservation efforts spearheaded by the Friends of Brunel Park will be shared during the guided tour.

Location:
Brunel Park: Brunel Sculpture Garden
Boiceville, NY

Date and Time:
Saturday, June 3
4 p.m. – 6 p.m

Price:

$40.00

Register here: Digging Deeper: A Naturalistic Edible Landscape in an Artist-Built Environment :: Events : The Garden Conservancy

Google Calendar ICS

We are incredibly honored to present a tour of our garden in collaboration with The Garden Conservancy to celebrate our second year on their incredible roster of nationally recognized gardens!

Join us for a walk through our multi-faceted garden with terrain changes, several garden rooms spanning various sun and shade areas, and a slew of unusual specimen fruit trees that all combine to create a magical garden environment on 1.3 compact acres planted between and among a collection of century-old figurative and narrative concrete statuary.

The Brunel Alsatian-style house is surrounded by pea gravel and bluestone pathways through iris, geranium, lilies, and European hornbeam. Prized tree peonies lead the way to a formal boxwood herb garden with phlox and foxgloves, which then transitions to a rhododendron slope underplanted with hellebores and other ground covers. Up the white pine root stairs is a level, sunny garden with several pollinator beds, a hardy kiwi pergola, and the newest additions: two Czech crevice gardens and a native plants bed devoted to attracting pollinators.

The spring gardens will be in their full glory. Check out our May Garden report on our About the Garden Page report to get a taste of what will be in bloom. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CpGA83Vj2kVNZE5XGIeDqlUnEg-5jf1o/view?usp=sharing

We are so excited to welcome Garden Conservancy enthusiasts and the general public to learn more about our sacred land.

Hello friends! We are looking for folks to help us get the Garden ready to welcome visitors this spring and to help us prepare for the amazing workshops, programs, and events we have planned for this summer. We need help with garden clean up and prep, event set up, visitor greeting, and tech support promoting our events via our website, Facebook and Instagram. We love engaging with high and middle schools students and giving them a hands on experience. A few hours at a time would be so very much appreciated. This is a community gathering place and we want our community to feel a sense of belonging and ownership of this land and for the creatures - great and small - who find a safe refuge here. On May 7th, bring your secaturs, your gloves, your spirit and your green thumBs! We will be doing garden maintenance and a variety of other projects and getting your input and ideas for making Brunel Sculpture Garden thrive and grow!

You can register here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTQyNDkz

We are honored to welcome Kathy Carey back to our garden! Kathy will be leading a very special Yoga meditation session that will take place at Brunel Park on Saturday October 16th from 10:30am - 12:00pm. A donation of $15-$20 is suggested.

In this class we will practice Yoga Asana, breathing and meditation in the beautiful forest and garden setting of Brunel Park.

These yoga practices will support us in bringing a gentle awareness to all of our senses. We are then fully present, as we smell the fresh fall air, receive the season’s beauty with soft receptive eyes, feel the body where it touches the earth, bathe in nature’s song, and enjoy the taste of nourishing, soothing garden tea at the end of the session.

When we engage the senses, move the body, and quiet the mind while immersed in nature’s beauty, peaceful balance, deep connection and a sense of belonging are restored.

Cathy Karey will be leading a very special Outdoor Gentle Yoga Class at Brunel Park and Sculpture Garden on Tuesday October 12 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

The suggested donation for this class is $10. Your donations will help support Brunel Park, future events and programming. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

*What time should I arrive? Class will begin at 5:30 PM. We recommend you arrive 15 minutes early to get settled in. You are welcome to come earlier and/or stay a few minutes after class to enjoy the park.

*What to bring: Please bring a yoga mat, small blanket or towel, water bottle, and an extra layer of clothing for comfort. Yoga props are not required but if you find them helpful (for instance yoga blocks or yoga strap) please bring what you like making sure it is easy to carry.

*What to wear: Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Having an extra layer of clothing is recommended.

*Footwear: Please wear supportive shoes. The approach to the lawn is a gently sloping, short walk through the garden. It is on woodland/lawn path with minor unevenness, so expect small stones, roots and twigs.

*Yoga surface: The yoga class is on a flat lawn surface and your yoga mat. Going barefoot during class if it is comfortable for you.

*Bugs? Ticks?: Happily Brunel Park receives a bimonthly application of a plant based, natural and safe insect repellent. The repellent is applied around the perimeter of the property and has effectively removed many tick and mosquito problems. You are welcome to wear your own bug repellent for gnats and reassurance.

*Where is Brunel Park? The park is located at 4008 State Route 28 and Desilva Road in Boiceville, NY.

*Parking: For this event, parking is available on the service road (Old Route 28) in front of Coldwell Banker at 5103, 3998 Route 28, Boiceville NY. This is just across from Brunel Park and the entrance to the service road is off of Route 28.

*Bathroom is available.

We are incredibly honored to present a tour of our garden in collaboration with The Garden Conservancy to celebrate the addition of Brunel Park to their incredible roster of nationally recognized gardens!

Join us for a walk through our multi-faceted garden with terrain changes, several garden rooms spanning various sun and shade areas, and a slew of unusual specimen fruit trees that all combine to create a magical garden environment on 1.3 compact acres planted between and among a collection of century-old figurative and narrative concrete statuary.

The Brunel Alsatian-style house is surrounded by pea gravel and bluestone pathways through iris, geranium, lilies, and European hornbeam. Prized tree peonies lead the way to a formal boxwood herb garden with phlox and foxgloves, which then transitions to a rhododendron slope underplanted with hellebores and other ground covers. Up the white pine root stairs is a level, sunny garden with several pollinator beds, a hardy kiwi pergola, and the newest additions: two Czech crevice gardens and a native plants bed devoted to attracting pollinators.

The native plant pollinator garden at the front of the visitor center is in its full glory in late summer and early fall — we are so excited to welcome Garden Conservancy enthusiasts and the general public to learn more about our sacred land.

 IN CELEBRATION OF BRUNEL PARK'S THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY, THE FRIENDS OF BRUNEL PARK PRESENT AN AFTERNOON OF POETRY, SPOKEN WORD, AND MUSIC AT BRUNEL SCULPTURE GARDEN!

CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE BY BUYING TICKETS AT OUR EVENTBRITE:

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

We are excited to welcome our community back to Brunel Park for an afternoon of performances including a live reading of Mary Austin’s classic novel, "The Land of Little Rain,” by acclaimed actress Ellen Parker, a presentation of work by our inaugural BIPOC Artist-in-Residence Karla Brundage, and readings by poet Jay Herman. A Q & A with Ms. Parker will follow her reading and numbered signed CDs will be available for purchase.

In addition, we are incredibly honored to welcome back Spirit of Thunderheart who will perform their songs, dancing, and drumming to re-awaken ancient rhythms resonating with power and joy! 

Brunel Park is an intimate sanctuary of nature, art, culture, and history, nestled in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. The Park was created by Emile Brunel, a French-Alsatian photographer, sculptor, and filmmaker who founded of the New York Institute of Photography in 1910 and moved to the Catskills in 1921. Between 1929 and 1941, he created the 14 concrete artworks that comprise the Sculpture Garden. 

Tickets for the event are $15.00 per adult (kids are free) payable in cash, by check made out to “Friends of Brunel Park,” or in advance by credit card via our Eventbrite link here.

Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or a picnic blanket for the event. Food and well-behaved pets on leashes are allowed. Masks are required of all non-vaccinated visitors at all times in the Sculpture Garden.

Join Donna Coane on the beautiful land of Brunel Park for a summer solstice with a fire ceremony Saturday June 26th at 2:00pm. Bring a drum and we will say goodbye to spring and welcome summer.

Please rsvp to: Nikitin@brunelpark.org or spiritofthunderheart@yahoo.com.

Register for this free event by clicking here!

The Friends of Brunel Park and The Town of Olive Historical Society are pleased to co-sponsor a winter program at the Olive Free Library about The Brunel Sculpture Garden.

As you have driven westward on Route 28 towards Boiceville, you may have glimpsed the tall statuary, the totems, peeking through the trees and shrubs on the knoll to the right of the highway. You may have wondered just exactly what they are, what their history is. The owners and trustees of this unusual property have opened it on a daily basis to the public. They have improved the site with additional natural landscaping and seasonal, flowering pollinator gardens, all of which enhances the garden’s presentation of well-being and pleasure – a lovely place to wander. The owners and trustees have researched both the artist - Emile Brunel - and his techniques and the cultural milieu within which he created his sculptures. Cynthia Nitikin, the Co-founder and a Trustee of Friends of Brunel Park, will be the presenter.

Please reserve your time on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 7 p.m. to join us for a presentation about the history of Brunel Sculpture Garden, and enjoy a short video showing what this special place offers to us all. Please register via this  zoom link  to join the lecture: 

Brunel Sculpture Garden welcomes all female-identifying visitors to connect with Donna Coane Oshtonha Ohskennonton, a member of the Schaghticoke people, in a traditional, hand-built women’s lodge constructed out of local forest wood and natural materials.

Donna will give a introduction to the concept of the women's lodge, describing its significance and meaning , while inviting visitors to practice traditions and hear stories of long ago. 

Space is very limited. Please rsvp to nikitin@brunelpark.org if you would like to attend.

This is a socially distanced event and proper face covering is required.

Donna Coane Oshtonha Ohskennonton is a songwriter, poet, educator, Traditional Northeastern Dancer, and Lead Drummer of Spirit of Thunderheart, the first women's drum group to win multiple Native American Music Awards. She is a spokesperson and activist for environmental issues, a Reiki Master, spiritual healer, traditional healer, life coach, community mediator and leader of the Women's Lodge.