Step Inside the Colorful World of Dorothy Gillespie in Narrowsburg

Art lovers have a rare chance this weekend to explore the studio of the late Dorothy Gillespie, the trailblazing artist known for her bold, swirling metal sculptures. The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation is hosting an Open House Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8181 Route 52, Narrowsburg, NY.

Gary Israel of the Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation shared what visitors can expect: “Well, when they come into the studio, of course, they’ll see all the art, but they’ll start with a 12-minute video that I edited from previous documentaries, and it will give you a opportunity—the visitor—to see my mother, hear my mother talk about her art and the process, and then they’ll be given a tour of the studio starting with her early college art days in the 30s, then when she moved to New York City in 1943 and started her career.”

Israel emphasized the impact of seeing Gillespie’s work in person.

“Seeing the studio, the three-dimensional art in a book or on TV, or on the internet, on the email, photos, is not the same as when you walk in and you’re surrounded by the three-dimensional.”

Gillespie was also a tireless advocate for women artists, and the foundation continues that legacy by supporting women’s organizations, arts programs, and public art projects nationwide. Israel explained that the foundation actively donates artworks to universities and public spaces to ensure wider appreciation of Gillespie’s work.

The studio itself remains a working space, with ongoing preparations for exhibitions across the country. For the open house, special arrangements have been made to display sculptures, including pieces that will later travel to shows in Florida and Virginia.

“The studio is active. It’s alive when you walk in,” Israel said.

More information is available at dorothygillespie.com.

Image: Dorothy Gillespie’s studio in Narrowsburg, NY. (Credit: The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation)