News from Whitcomb’s
Ted Cornell with “Danger” at the Art Farm
From the ADIRONDACK EXPLORER
Edward “Ted” Cornell
Participants can try out new trail from Edward ‘Ted’ Cornell’s storied Art Farm to a new exhibit in Whallonsburg
By Tim Rowland
One more time, artist Edward “Ted” Cornell will unite his beloved Essex-Westport community. On June 1, his fans, friends and neighbors will hike 4.5 miles from his farm to a celebration of his work in a new exhibit at the Whitcomb’s Garage gallery in Whallonsburg.
Cornell, now 80 and residing at Elderwood in Ticonderoga, became enchanted with the Champlain Valley after a storied career in New York City where he helped Joseph Papp found what became Shakespeare in the Park.
There was little in his background to suggest an affinity for a land where the nearest gallon of milk — unless it came straight from the cow — was a dozen miles away. But not only did he make a successful transition, he fostered cooperation in community projects by listening to, and respecting, one and all.
“He believed in being a steward of the land, but also a steward of the community,” said Margaret Gibbs, who is curating the Cornell exhibit, which will run from May 4 to June 29.
Many artists came to the Adirondacks to dutifully record the spectacular beauty, but only a few, such as Rockwell Kent and Arto Monaco, stayed and spent appreciable parts of their careers, making art, but also building and enriching their communities.