Focuses

Public Art

Nevelson Chapel, Louise Nevelson’s only remaining complete sculptural environment, is a jewel of the public art collection at Saint Peter’s, which also includes works by Ann Sherwin Bromberg, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Kiki Smith, and others. Exhibitions initially begun by Elaine de Kooning are staged year-round in two galleries and in the sanctuary. Artists have included Willem de Kooning, Dale Chihully, Jeff Talman, and a wide spectrum of local and regional artists.

Theatre

The Theatre at Saint Peter’s hosts an array of works, including readings, plays and musicals. Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man was premiered here. Other notable productions have included Stephen Schwartz’s Godspell. Jeff Whitty’s Avenue Q was read here in 2000. After construction to restore the Theatre is complete, not-for-profit theater companies will be welcome to stage performances here.

Music

Jazz, Classical, and Latin American music have long found a home at Saint Peter’s. Regular concert and recital series present luminaries and rising jazz, organ, piano, early music ensembles, instrumentalists, and latin groups.

The instrument collection includes the piano of the legendary composer, and Duke Ellington’s closest collaborator, Billy Strayhorn. The sanctuary organ is the work of Klais Orgelblau of Bonn, Germany. The organ’s distinctive case and console were designed by Massimo Vignelli which, with Frank Gehry’s design for the Disney Concert Hall, remains one of only several architect-designed organs of the modern era.

Performers across all these disciplines have included artists like the Afro-latin Jazz Orchestra, the Argento Ensemble (contemporary music), Duke Ellington (jazz piano), Felix Hell (classical organ), Antônio Carlos Jobim (composer, piano/guitar), Solange Knowles (R&B), Arturo O’Farrill (jazz piano), Catherine Russell (jazz voice), Gregg Smith Singers (choir), and Clark Terry (jazz trumpet).

Dance

A historic artform at Saint Peter’s, in more recent years a program of contemporary, baroque, and classical dance performances is undergoing a resurgence. Notable dancers from New York City’s several significant dance companies first staged performances at Saint Peter’s. Today, a similar effort at formal presentation of dance is underway as well as programs for teaching traditional dances from Latin America and public milongas.