Day Trip From NYC: Manitoga, a Retreat for Design Lovers
About an hour's drive north of New York City, outside the town of Garrison, NY, is Manitoga, the home and studio of late designer Russel Wright. It's not as popular with day trippers (read: crowded) as other nearby art sites like Dia: Beacon, meaning you can find the same sense of relaxation and peace that Wright did.
Wright was a mid-century industrial designer best known for his tableware. His teacups, jugs, vases, and other household items were stamped with his name, creating one of the first lifestyle brands. His pieces were mix-and-match, which meant that you didn't have to splurge on expensive china in order to have pretty dishes.
Manitoga is an Algonquin word meaning "place of great spirit." Wright and his wife Mary purchased the property, a former quarry, in 1942 and began transforming it into their personal oasis. The centerpiece and their home, Dragon Rock (pictured), was a collaboration between Wright and the architect David Leavitt.
Although Wright's studio is in a separate structure (pictured), he also slept there, so it was fully equipped with a bed, bookshelf, and a very cozy bathroom.
Wright wanted every element of the space to be carefully thought out and appeal to all five senses. The walkway over this waterfall was designed so that it would be louder on one side than the other, creating a stirring (and slightly off-kilter) sensation.
Although the property had been badly damaged from logging when Wright bought it, he cultivated native plants in order to create spaces like this "moss room."
Wright moved into Manitoga full-time in the mid-'60s. He believed that the house's decor should change with the seasons, so many of the pieces in his kitchen/dining space—including the chandelier—could be flipped over or rotated to show another color or design. Wright also loved trying unorthodox materials in his work—see if you can spot the places where he used styrofoam and crushed cardboard paper rolls as design elements.
The home and studio were built into the ground with flat roofs covered in plants so that they would blend seamlessly into the environment. Wright traveled extensively in Asia and was particularly influenced by Japanese design, with sliding panels separating rooms instead of doors and the long, spare lines inspired by temple architecture.
Many of Wright's own pieces are on display as well. Some were actual items that he used every day, while others have been brought here to show more examples of his work. Many of Wright's original pieces can be had on sites like eBay, while Los Angeles's Bauer Pottery has reissued some of his most popular designs.
Last year, Manitoga launched an artists' residency program to bring new work from living artists into the space. This year's program features "Sanctuary," an installation of artist Stephen Talasnik's "aquatic architecture." One of his "structures" is shown here bobbing in the water. It will be on site through November, when Manitoga closes for the season.