EVENT: Alice Austen House Returns to its Roots
Rare 17th Century Dutch Paintings, Furniture, and Household Objects
The Exhibit Opens on Sunday, September 17, 1 – 4 PM
ALL WELCOME
When we cast our eyes upon Alice Austen’s magnificent gingerbread home, we seldom realize that this Victorian Gothic gem, in fact, traces its roots to a 1690s one-room farmhouse built during the time the Dutch occupied and ruled Nieuw Amsterdam.
To celebrate this proud heritage, the Museum is temporarily installing two rooms with Dutch 17th Century furniture, paintings, and household objects thus providing a sense of what the house once might have looked like. The renowned collector George Way, who has spent forty years collecting and studying Dutch art, curates the exhibit. Among the 60 treasures on display are a rare-fire back, decorated with a coat of arms surmounted by a crown and a cross; a stool with an upholstered seat, which was only used in the wealthiest homes; a small and a large cupboard; a brown ink drawing of a cottage; and an etching of a military man. Included are also 17th Century Dutch silver spoons and an assortment of fine Dutch miniature portraits.
STARLIGHT CONCERT
Directly following the exhibit opening, the Borough President presents a Starlight Concert on the Austen lawn. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, a picnic basket or snacks and enjoy our magnificent view while reliving A Night at the 500 Club including all your favorite standards from Sinatra to the Doo Wop beat performed by The Family and then listen as The Brooklyn Horns play Jazz and Pop.