A Place to Gather, Discover, and Grow: A Conversation with The Pocantico Center’s Judy Clark
Located above the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, on the grounds of The Pocantico Center, is Kykuit, a National Trust Historic Site that was a haven for four generations of Rockefellers. The family filled the home and grounds with paintings and sculptures—the galleries on the lower level display more than 100 works of world class modern and contemporary art.
Today, The Pocantico Center is owned by the National Trust and operated by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and hosts programs that have local, national, and global impact. Visitors can experience the beauty and meditative environment that is Kykuit from May to November, as well as attend year-round cultural programming at Pocantico’s David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center. The site also houses a robust conference and artist residency program.
Judy Clark, executive director of The Pocantico Center since 2014, will retire at the end of this year after a nearly 40-year tenure at Pocantico. Before she left, we wanted to learn more about what drew her to Kykuit, and what her hopes are for the site going into the future. For Clark, the site is simply “magical and exceptionally beautiful.”
Judy Clark, executive director of The Pocantico Center.
What is your earliest memory of experiencing a historic site? What drew you to The Pocantico Center?
Going to the Thomas Payne cottage in New Rochelle, New York in a fourth-grade field trip. It was not exciting. It was dark, dingy, and old, and I didn't enjoy it, if I am honest. That all changed when I came to Pocantico in 1985 to be the director of personal services and special events for the family at Kykuit and the other buildings on the property.
photo by: Jaime Martorano
View of the gardens at Kykuit.
What first inspired your love of history?
I really had no love of history when I arrived here. I absolutely didn't. The Thomas Payne cottage didn't do it for me, and I didn’t have much exposure to historic sites beyond that. Coming to Pocantico opened my eyes to the beauty of this special site. Learning about the history of the Rockefeller family, their philanthropy and their traditions, and the amazing work they did globally, was inspiring.
That’s when I fell in love with history and art history. I did not have an art history background, but you can't work here and not love the art.
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When people visit Kykuit, what do you want them to see, do, and feel while they are there?
I want them to see the gardens, the grounds and collections that have been preserved. I want them to participate in our range of educational and cultural programs and experience nature, and I want them to feel inspired and welcomed.
What is your favorite part of your site?
It's actually the Japanese garden, which is enchanting, contemplative, and spiritual.
photo by: Arnaldo Ugarte
The Japanese Tea House at Kykuit.
What are you most proud of your tenure as executive director?
I’m proud of stewarding the significant changes on the property, such as seeing it go from a private family estate to a more public non-profit entity for the enjoyment and education of the surrounding community and larger public. And, of course, the opening of the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center.
photo by: The Pocantico Center
View of the music room at Kykuit. The painting over the sofa is a replica of Joan Miró’s “Hirondelle Amour” (1933-34, this painted 1974), oil on canvas.
What are your hopes for Kykuit going forward?
There's so much, but I would say preserve the historic buildings and the art, the collections, gardens and grounds, and make them accessible through a diverse range of cultural and educational programs for the local community and public to enjoy.
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