Gallery Retreat In The Woods

Restoring an Icon: Major work is being performed on one of the greatest treasures in all of the Finger Lakes Region. The 1931 Garrett Chapel overlooks Keuka L...ake, tucked away in the tree-laden hillside in Bluff Point, NY. I’ve posted about it often herea remarkable memorial belonging to one of the great winemaking families in America. Evelyn and Paul Garrett had this chapel built after they lost their son, Charles, to illness at the age of 26. Paul Garrett was a titan in the world of winemaking, forming Garrett & Co. in 1915. His wineries (located in five states) produced ten million gallons of wine per year. His vineyards were among the finest in the world, taking advantage of the exceptional Finger Lakes soil to help build the empire. When Garrett Chapel was built, they spared no expense with some of the finest materials in the world used: -Chapel floor is Rembrandt Slate from Holland -Crypt marble is Xanadu Onyx from Algeria -Crypt walls are Crab Orchard Marble from Tennessee -Roof and terrace are Vermont Slate -Light fixtures, weather vane handmade in Europe -Stained glass windows from famed glass artist Frederick Wilson The family is interred here in the cryptwhere major work is occurring to eradicate moisture and water issues that were beginning to cause significant damage. The remains of the Garrett family were temporarily moved to a vault at a nearby cemetery over a year ago. Bero Architecture and Heaster Building Restoration have been busy charting out a plan and proceeding with restoration. In many cases, they have gone to the original source to replace the damaged stone and marblea painstaking process. Work is coming along nicely and in May weddings will resume at this spectacular venue. Weekly church services, as well as the popular summer concert series, are also expected in the coming weeks. Restoration work at this treasure has been ongoing, the slate roof was completely restored a couple of years ago. It’s an expensive endeavor to protect this gem, one that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I’ve posted several images here, ranging from older seasonal shots to present day work being done. You can learn more here on their website at www.garrettchapel.org

BREAKING: It is 63 degrees and GLORIOUS in WNY right now at the George Eastman Museum here in Rochester, NY. The winter aconite has emerged in full here.

60 Seconds of Serenity (#360): Each day I am sharing 60 seconds of nature to help take the edge off during these stressful times. As glorious as a Finger Lak...es Region waterfall can be! This morning’s rising sun put a spotlight on the nearby towering pines as Taughannock Falls flowed wonderfully there in the distance. This 215 foot tall treasure was simply magnificent on a cold, crisp start to the day in Trumansburg, NY. For folks visiting these gems, please be careful of the ice on the trailsproper boots are a must! See more