Driftwood Play Days at Plum Point

Sept 29, 2013    through Mt. St. Mary College

The Hudson River is generous.

We arrive at the River... then comes the walking, wandering, beachcombing; the spying, touching, yanking; the muck, the surprises...Logs, branches, sticks, pilings, fence posts and parts of houses wash down, in and out all the time. The offerings are small, water and sun chiseled twigs and LARGE massive tree trunks and l-o-n-g snaky logs that look like creatures; then there are those sharp devil-face black seed pods that pierce your flip flops; and the house parts: the lawn chair  arms, stair stringers,planks and timbers. It never stops. It's never the same.  It's a great opportunity to practice the Zen of Building: No Shop, No Plans, just a few tools. Gypsy Building Just Play!

ABOVE:  Diane Krautter hunting wild driftwood  and Charlotte Daily 

2013

There were three of us on a sunny, balmy September 29.  We successfully avoided getting jabbed by kayakers as we began "seeing" the beach in new ways.  First, we used a 5"x7" card as the tool to collect what we saw; then we had a piece of raffia to attach a few findings together. Finally, we began making larger grumblier objects requiring screws...

2012

Nine of us arrived at Plum Point off  Rt 9W south of Newburgh at 10AM on Sunday, July 15. We were done by 12:30... We had a few simple tools, a sense of adventure. I talked a bit about  tools and techniques I've used to make various rustic creations since I started using driftwood 20 years ago as a artist and builder.  I'm sure we'll  do this again. Stay in touch with Mt St. Mary's Adult Enrichment                                                 

                                                                      Daniel Giordano, with the chair he made in those few hours with Patrick Glynn -->

And we found, made and left a Gift for the River:  balanced, simple and spins in the Wind:

Thanks to Joan McAdam and Sandy Brandman of Mt St. Mary's for getting this to happen