Pieces of Teatown, Past and Present

Among this year’s silent auction offerings are three especially meaningful pieces connected to Teatown’s past, present, and future. A historic handmade quilt, an original painting of Teatown Lake, and two signed architectural studies from our campus transformation each offer a unique way to bring a piece of Teatown home.

Autumn at Teatown Lake, Oil on Canvas by Ziporah Janowski

This original painting by honoree Ziporah Janowski captures one of Teatown’s most familiar views at the height of fall. Inspired by what she describes as her “favorite season and view at Teatown,” Ziporah returns again and again to the lake bridge when the foliage is at its peak and reflected in the water, photographing the scene and later reinterpreting it on canvas.

The painting has been generously donated by Ziporah in support of this year’s Gala and will be framed for the auction, ready to bring a little piece of autumn at Teatown home.

Early Visions of Teatown’s Education Center

These two original works by architect Eric Bunge, FAIA, Co-Founding Partner of nARCHITECTS – the firm leading Teatown’s campus transformation – offer a rare glimpse into the kind of early design tools used in the project. The signed works, one drawing and one watercolor, are conceptual studies exploring the ideas, forms, and relationship to the landscape that would ultimately inform the new Education building. Eric has generously donated both originals to Teatown in support of the Gala.

Eric co-founded nARCHITECTS with Mimi Hoang with a goal of creating architecture with a positive social and environmental impact through the connection between architecture, landscape, ecology, and people. Born in Montreal of Argentinian heritage, he earned degrees in architecture from McGill University and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, both with Distinction.  Before founding nARCHITECTS in 1999, Eric trained in London, Paris, Calcutta, Montreal, Boston and New York City. 

He currently teaches graduate design studios at Columbia University and has taught at institutions including Harvard, Yale, RISD, Parsons, and the University of Toronto. nARCHITECTS has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2023 National Design Award in Architecture from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, The 2016 American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture, Emerging Voices from the Architectural League, and the 2005 Canadian Rome Prize.  Their work has been widely published nationally and internationally, and exhibited at MoMA, the Cooper Hewitt, and the Milan Architecture Triennale.  More detail can be found at www.nARCHITECTS.com.

A Treasured Piece of Teatown History

This beautiful king-size quilt is much more than a work of art—it is a treasured piece of Teatown’s history and a heartfelt expression of its mission.

This one of a kind quilt began with a simple idea — to represent Teatown and the natural world, both as a celebration of the sanctuary and the need to preserve our natural world. Volunteers came forward to create individual squares inspired by nature, wildlife, and Teatown. These single squares were sewn together to form a unique heirloom.

This marvelous quilt represents the spirit of Teatown: a love of nature, a commitment to conservation, and the power of a community coming together to protect and celebrate the natural world. Its many stitches and unique embroidered scenes preserve not only memories, but a piece of Teatown’s story and legacy.

This is your one-time chance to take home a truly special piece of Teatown history. An original-rare quilt created with the creativity, dedication, and love of the many people who have collaborated to artistically depict Teatown’s dedication to nature and conservation.

After it was finished, it was raffled off at our Gala that Fall to benefit Teatown’s operating budget. The original owner has has now donated it for someone else to treasure as Teatown begins a new era.