Lexington Farm continues to quench the thirst of Reading’s residents, but these days they’re thirsty for fine art.
For 180 years, Lexington Farm served as a dairy farm for the village of Felchville (now known as Reading), but in the fall of 2012 the 6,000 sq. foot space reopened its doors to the public as an exhibition space through the Hall Art Foundation.
“Founded in 2007, the Hall Art Foundation makes available postwar and contemporary artworks from its own collection and that of Andrew and Christine Hall for the enjoyment and education of the public,” said Hall Art Foundation Director, Maryse Brand.
The Reading property, which was built in the early 1800’s by Elisha W. Watkins, underwent renovations starting in 2009. Upon its opening four years ago the farmhouse, cow, horse, and tractor barns, had all been transformed into individual museum-quality galleries.
“The former dairy farm was ideally suited – in terms of its structures and location – to be converted to this purpose,” Brand said.
Currently, the Foundation has two exhibitions live in Reading— “Outdoor Sculpture” by Richard Deacon, Olafur Eliasson, and Marc Quinn, and “Landscapes After Ruskin: Redefining The Sublime” curated by Joel Sternfeld. Both exhibits run through the end of the Foundation’s season, November 27th.
Landscapes after Ruskin: Redefining the Sublime | Curated by Joel Sternfeld
“The Foundation regularly welcomes groups of students from local elementary, middle school, high-school and universities,” said Brand. “We also host an annual Evening for Educators in order to introduce local teachers to the collection and exhibitions, discuss ways in which they can integrate the art and exhibitions on view into their curriculum, and inform them about the process of organizing free class visits.”
Open seasonally May through November, admission to the Foundation is free, though donations to support programming are appreciated. Three tour times are available at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Interested in hanging around after your tour to take in the ambiance? The Foundation offers boxed lunches which can be pre-ordered 24 hours ahead. Enjoy an Organic Chicken Breast Sandwich with Vermont Goat Cheese while simultaneously consuming sights of waterfalls, pastures, hayfields and extensive woodlands.