RAW SPACE The vacant lot behind Catskill Art Space on Main Street in Livingston Manor will be turned into a landscaped garden for exhibiting large-scale art works and for holding art classes. Art Steinhauer photo
CAS addition will combine nature, art
‘Backyard’ garden coming in 2026
RIVERWALK ACCESS The Art Garden will be connected to the hamlet’s proposed Riverwalk, allowing patrons to also experience views of the Willowemoc Creek. Art Steinhauer photo
By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink
In the small towns of the Catskills, it can be difficult to find places to discover the artistic side of the local community. But Catskill Art Space has for years helped ease that problem greatly. CAS’s newest plan to add to the community of Livingston Manor is an Art Garden, covering the entire yard behind the CAS building.
“Arts and culture are a tremendous means for economic revitalization. Drawing visitors supports tourism, enlivens our town and supports people coming together,” said Sally Wright, CAS’s executive director. “Livingston Manor has undergone a tremendous transformation in the last few years, and we believe the sculpture garden will be inclusive and community focused.”
The public sculpture garden is in the first phase of changing the rear yard into a place for the arts, nature and community to come together. The project is planned to start with the landscaping and construction in the spring or summer of 2026.
“CAS underwent a major renovation and expansion from 2020 to 2022, nearly doubling our space. As part of that growth, we envisioned transforming our rear yard into a public sculpture garden – an accessible, community space for experiencing art,” said Wright.
The garden will be free and open to everyone. There are plans for making it a space where CAS can also hold classes for children to interact with the local ecology and art.
Wright added,“The garden will include seating, offering a welcoming place to enjoy ice cream beside the Willowemoc Creek while surrounded by inspiring local and world-class artworks. We are especially interested in exhibiting large-scale outdoor sculptures by artists with ties to the region.”
Todd Haiman of Todd Haiman Landscape Design of New York City will be the landscape architect for the project. He said they envision a “four-dimensional design,” incorporating river views, sculptures and native plantings that will take advantage of the changing seasons.
CAS is planning on fully integrating the Art Garden with the town’s proposed Riverwalk project by having paths that lead to the walk from the garden.
To learn more about the Catskill Art Space’s garden plans, visit catskillartspace.org and instagram.com/catskillartspace.