Three Artists, Two Women in Conservation
"I would like to preserve this piece of land that supports a woods teeming with wildlife, from bear to flying squirrel and birds, from turkey to hummingbird. With three small long waterfalls that drop sheerly from the hillside and spill into the long stretch trout stream. I hope the stream will always have insects and crayfish, and "hidey holes" for the trout, and frogs, newts, salamanders and algae eaters, and everything a healthy clean water stream should have."
- Sondra Freckelton
In honor of Women’s History Month, we honor two entwined Conservationists and artists:
Artist and conservationist Sondra Freckelton, along with Otsego Land Trust’s very own Public Lands Manager and Artist, Anne Wilfer, have made and continue to make a deep and meaningful impact on protecting our region’s natural landscape. Their unique and storied connection of art and conserved land is a beautiful example of what can happen when women collaborate. Both are artists and met through art, and Sondra left her 107-acre property to Anne when she passed.
Sondra Freckelton and her husband Jack Beal purchased their 107-acre property in the early 1970s. An avid gardener and force of nature herself, Sondra spent years shaping beautiful compositions in her gardens and the natural landscape beyond. In addition to constructing buildings, interior features, and furniture, she built (and rebuilt after devastating floods) stone retaining walls, staircases, terraces, fences, and brick walkways that define garden spaces. Sondra also loved the natural areas of the property and often hiked the old logging roads on the wooded mountainside, waded in the creek, and observed wildlife outside her kitchen window. One of her last wishes was to see the land she cared for so much preserved and protected in perpetuity. This prompted her to donate a conservation easement to Otsego Land Trust in 2015.
The protected property has frontage along a creek that is a tributary to the Susquehanna River. This River Valley Corridor is among the Regional Priority Conservation Projects listed in the NYS Open Space Plan, indicating its importance in maintaining high water quality, a significant warm water fishery, and public recreation area.
Not only was Sondra a conservationist, but her artistic touches leave a lasting impact on the conserved property and beyond. Sondra Freckelton (1936-2019), a Michigan native, she knew at a very young age that she wanted to be an artist. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she met her husband, Jack Beal. Shortly after marrying, the couple moved to New York City to start their art careers.
Sondra began her career as an abstract sculptor working in wood and plastics. During the mid-1970’s Sondra was one of several noted abstract artists who turned to realism in their work. She often said that her last sculpture was the historic mill she completely renovated to become her home and studio along the Ouleout Creek near Oneonta, New York.
When Sondra began working in watercolor, she recognized the medium was not taken seriously in the New York “art world.” She knew her paintings had to command attention and set out to create large-scale compositional statements with saturated color that read from a distance and were illuminating on close inspection.
Sondra depicted things from daily life in her paintings – flowers, vegetables, antique quilts, unique furniture pieces, handmade objects – bringing them all to the viewer’s attention and in the process, elevating the medium of watercolor. Her work is included in numerous public collections and is featured in several publications, including a book about her teaching philosophy and painting techniques.
Anne Wilfer, the Public Lands Manager at Otsego Land Trust, is charged with keeping our public lands beautiful and usable. Her work makes it possible for many local residents and visitors to enjoy nature at the Parslow Road Conservation Area and Brookwood Point. Anne Wilfer began working at Otsego Land Trust’s Brookwood Point Conservation Area in 2019. She prepared a Master Plan for the historic gardens and surrounding areas, which was completed in 2020. In 2021 Anne assumed the role of Public Lands Manager, overseeing the maintenance and management of all of the land trust’s public access properties. Anne has an Associate’s Degree in Horticulture from SUNY Delhi and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. Drawing from her design and creative problem-solving skills, Anne strives to make all the properties more accessible, safe, and engaging to the greater community.
Anne is also an Artist, and that is where her story begins to entwine with that of Sondra Freckelton. Anne began making art at a very early age. Her father was connected to fine arts personally and professionally. Through him, Anne saw lots of exhibits and met many artists, including Jack Beal and Sondra Freckelton, who became her mentors and extended family. Anne later spent many summers at their farm in Upstate New York learning about art, doing odd jobs, and gardening.
Anne attended art school for a while but then decided to pursue a career in landscape architecture. She appreciated that her background in fine arts gave her a leg up in the profession. Over the years Anne kept in touch with Jack and Sondra, returning when she could for visits and holidays, and always considered their farm to be a second home. Although Sondra and Jack are both gone now, Anne is proud to have assumed ownership and full-time residency at their beloved property. Anne has come full circle back to where many things began – lasting friendships, caring for the house and grounds, and a strong connection with the land. It is with great pride that Anne also finds herself reconnecting with fine arts again. Anne is honored to serve as caretaker and steward of this meaningful place that she calls home. Anne’s care for 107 acres of conserved land, and over a half dozen Otsego Land Trust properties, supports our rural communities, promotes public health, strengthens wildlife diversity, and inspires the human spirit.
Note: Jack Beal (1931-2013) is best known for his paintings, murals, and fine draftsmanship. He is among the diverse painters of “New Realism” that arose in the late 1960’s. He had numerous solo exhibits at his gallery in New York City and his work is featured in many public collections and publications. Four murals depicting The History of American Labor in Washington, DC, and two tile mosaic murals installed in the Times Square New York City Subway Station are among his national commissions. Jack split his time between New York City and the farm outside of Oneonta. When Upstate, he created numerous compositions depicting the natural landscape all around the property. An avid trout fisherman, Jack was particularly fond of the fishing holes along the Ouleout Creek and often caught fish for dinner.
