Jen Chen-su Huang, Rita Maas and Audra Wolowiec all treat musical notation as something to look at rather than play: Maas draws ambient soundscapes through deep listening, Wolowiec turns text into sculpture, and Huang reinterprets woven patterns as playable compositions. It sits in Wave Hill House on a 28-acre estate facing the Palisades. A December museum trip with no Midtown queue.
What to expect
A gallery show inside the estate's main house, with drawings, sculptural objects and works that function as scores you could in principle perform. Because it is at Wave Hill, the visit naturally extends outdoors to the gardens, conservatory and the Palisades view across the river, weather permitting.
Good to know
- Take Metro-North to Riverdale, or the 1 train to 231st Street and the Bx7 or Bx10 bus, then the shuttle up the hill.
- Wave Hill closes in the late afternoon in winter, so this is a morning or early-afternoon trip.
- The show is included with grounds admission rather than separately ticketed.
- Pair it with the gardens and the Hudson view; the estate is the reason to make the journey out.
- Winter light in the gallery is best in the middle of the day.
- The grounds are hilly, so factor that in for mobility and for winter footing.
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Common questions
Do I pay separately for the exhibition?
No. The show is free with admission to the grounds, so a single Wave Hill admission covers both the gallery and the gardens.
Is it worth going in winter?
Yes — the exhibition is indoors in Wave Hill House, and the winter garden and the Palisades view across the Hudson hold up well on a clear cold day.
How do I get to Wave Hill?
Metro-North's Hudson Line to Riverdale is the fastest, or take the 1 train to 231st Street and connect to the Bx7 or Bx10 bus toward the estate.
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