THE MAN, THE LAND, THE ART OF EMILE BRUNEL (1874-1944)

Discover the story behind the mysterious statues along Route 28 in Boiceville at Brunel Park, a unique sculpture garden created by French artist and visionary Emile Brunel. This illustrated lecture explores Brunel’s life, his artistic legacy, and the enduring cultural and historic significance of the park. Participants will receive free brochures and deepen their appreciation for one of Ulster County’s hidden gems. Perfect for history buffs, artists, youth, and anyone curious about outsider art or local lore. Visit www.brunelpark.org or stop by daily from 1–5 p.m. to explore the site before or after the talk.

Presented by Cynthia Nikitin, co-founder of Friends of Brunel Park and longtime community planner. For 30 years, Cynthia has pursued her passion for making better places in cities and towns around the world through her work with Project for Public Spaces. Most recently, she trained librarians from the Mid-Hudson and Ramapo/Catskill Library systems and the Sustainable Libraries Network to transform libraries into Resilience Hubs. She served for three years as Resilient Places Consultant with Sustainable Hudson Valley, and as a community planner with KaN Landscape Design based in Kingston, NY. She also served as a member of the Town of Olive’s Critical Environmental Area planning committee and the Friends of the Catskill Mountain/Ashokan Rail Trail.