Artist to be honored on annual Solstice Cruise

NEWBURGH — The Newburgh Preservation Association will host its third annual Solstice Cruise on Thursday, June 21, aboard the Hudson River paddleboat, River Rose. Boarding commences at 7:30 p.m. from the Newburgh Landing, with departure set for 8 p.m. Native son and abstract painter Ellsworth Kelly will be honored for the contribution his foundation has made to the restoration of the Dutch Reformed Church, through the efforts of World Monuments Fund, who in 2006 designated the church as one of the “100 Most Endangered Sites.” Born in Newburgh in 1923, Kelly is noted for his contribution to 20th century painting and sculpture. For six decades, his emphasis on pure form and color has played a significant role in the development of abstract art in America. The City of Newburgh, proprietor of the Dutch Reformed Church, has appointed the Newburgh Preservation Association to oversee its preservation. An example of the Greek Revival Style, the church was designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892). Partly as a result of Newburgh’s 20th century socio-economic decline, the church was abandoned by its congregation in 1967, with the exterior suffering most of the damage of 38 years of neglect. The public is invited to participate in this annual gathering for a two-plus hour cruise on the Hudson on the longest day of the year. A “rustic picnic,” à la Manhattan, will be served with wines from Vino 100’s onboard wine tasting.Tickets are $65 Newburgh Preservation Associations members, $80 non-members. Call John McCormick at 561-0700, e-mail mccmusic@verizon.net or log on to www.preservenewburgh.org.