CASTLE BREITENBACH
Visual art extends into every aspect of life for world-renowned artist T.E. Breitenbach. Not only has he made a name for himself and a career to inspire artists now and well into the future, Breitenbach’s work and creative journey is truly remarkable.
Notably, said journey began when he attended the University of Notre Dame (‘69-‘72) and, in only his second year, collaborated with and created a triptych painting for the late Jim Morrison of the Doors.
Breitenbach did not slow down, though – in fact, that was just the beginning. He completed his well-known Proverbidioms painting in 1975 – and the next year he began construction of his castle… Yes, you read that correctly. Breitenbach built his own castle. The structure doubles as both his home and studio in Altamont, NY with most of the stones (some as long as 12 feet) sourced from a nearby creek, and trees hand-cut in a surrounding forest. He even salvaged a neighbor’s collapsing carriage barn for its beams and siding.
Fast forward nearly 50 years and countless paintings and projects later, Breitenbach pushed his creative boundaries even further, writing books and producing a musical he wrote titled Hieronymus, A Musical Fantasy, about medieval artist Hieronymus Bosch, who inspired Breitenbach’s early work. Interestingly, Breitenbach refers to Bosch as, "An artist with a 'too-large' imagination," referring to the musical’s storyline, where he is so deeply immersed in the worlds he creates, the creatures he invents are alive and reside in his house. So when he falls in love with a girl from the real world, he … well …you can watch it on PBS and find out! Visit OurMusical.com for links, trailers, and a documentary.
I happen to feel somewhat similarly about Breitenbach: while his imagination is not too large, it is uniquely vast, and only seems to become bigger and better with time. He has had a long and wildly impressive career, and as of this past June he yet again added to his roster of accomplishments — he has now established an official 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization for Castle Breitenbach to become a full-fledged museum. This effort to share his space and his art with the community has been a lifelong goal. He feels very blessed, he says, in his career and now wants to give back.
According to the organization’s website, CastleBreitenbach.org, “The museum will be dedicated to preserving and presenting the artistic legacy of T. E. Breitenbach”. It will showcase exhibits, offer tours of the hand-built castle and studio, and create a 50-acre preserve where visitors are invited to explore the grounds with its artistic stone walls, gardens, woodland trails, and 40' waterfall. The museum will also host an array of events, workshops, music events, films, school tours, and rotating art shows of other artists.
As Breitenbach and his wife still occupy the castle, the museum will be accomplished in stages beginning with the official opening of a new sculpture park, in the summer of 2025. The park is under construction and already has work by renowned sculptor Arline Shulman (4 pieces), Donald Gialanella, Mary Pat Wager, Micheal Meli, Steven Rolf Kroeger, Hope Konecny, Jack Harlow, Louis N. Domanico, Thom Breitenbach, Debra Barnes Breitenbach, Travis Breitenbach, and more.
Learn more about upcoming workshops, events, and studio tours by visiting TEBreitenbach.com or Castlebreitenbach.org. This is a unique way to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and picturesque nature. And, in my opinion, a day at Castle Breitenbach is an opportunity to fully experience the true meaning of “imagination.”
BY YNOT
tebreitenbach.com/futuremuseum
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