R5 All Things Art

Step inside the Croton-on-Hudson home Marcy B. Freedman has shared with her family for the past 22 years and you’re surrounded by art: paintings, drawings, prints, collages, sculptures, and mixed media. “There are more than 150 works here by more than 60 artists,” she says.

Which makes sense, given Freedman’s commitment to the arts. Throughout her career, Freedman has pursued parallel roles ranging from creator to teacher, curator, lecturer, and historian. And, simultaneously, she has been wife (she is married to Timothy J. Siglock, MD, an otolaryngologist) and mother (she has two sons, Devin and Blake Siglock, now 27 and 25, respectively).

In addition to working alone, Freedman is a collaborator and has produced video and multimedia pieces with Peekskill artist Gene Panczenko. Three years ago, she formed The Cathouse Associates with two other women, exhibiting their drawings, collages, and small sculptures throughout Westchester. Freedman is also a member of EYE, a collective that stages art-making events, and Word of Mouth, a nine-person spoken-word performance group.

Here are some of her favorite possessions:

1 White Light This lamp, reconstructed from a lamp he found at the local Goodwill store, was used as a prop in a movie that Freedman’s son Devin produced. “After the shoot, he kindly allowed me to have it.”

2 The Writing on the Wall Shortly after the family purchased their home, Freedman painted the wall to the right of the front door with lines of continuous black script. “This wall was my statement of ‘It’s ours! We can do what we want with it!’

3 Buckled Up For their first anniversary, Dr. Siglock bought Freedman this cloisonné art deco belt buckle, and then, when he realized she couldn’t actually wear it, he bought her a black leather belt to attach to it. Decades later, Freedman continues to treasure it. “It’s a sentimental thing. He’s the more romantic one of us.”

4 Taking the Plunge Yes, it’s a toilet plunger, but its handle has been painted a dusty rose and, in Freedman’s house, its place of honor is by the living room fireplace. “I wore it as a hat in a performance piece. I’m a huge fan of Marcel Duchamp. He would have called it an ‘assisted readymade.’”

5 Box of Rings This shiny black wooden box was brought back from Vietnam by one of Freedman’s sisters. “As with so many of my possessions, its intrinsic value is minimal, but its sentimental meaning makes it priceless.”

6 Pretty in Pink These hot-pink molded-plastic high heels were made by designer Karim Rashid. “I saw them in a store window in the city and had to have them. They’re surprisingly comfortable, though probably not on a hot day.”

7 A Mother’s Pride This sculpture, made by Devin, is on temporary loan to his mother. One scene in Devin’s film called for burning fake flowers. “This is the residue immobilized in Quick Water and encased in a Plexiglas box.” She says there are many more of “these bizarre, insane, outrageous objects” in her basement. “Devin wants to be a filmmaker but I call him a closet sculptor.”

8 Unmasked Freedman wore this blank white mask in a video installation she made with collaborator Gene Panczenko for an exhibit in Peekskill earlier this year; she wore the mask at the opening. “People didn’t know who I was.”

9 Little Black Dress This frilly black Betsey Johnson party dress was a gift to Freedman from her husband nearly 25 years ago. Luckily for her, she can still wear it today. - Advertisement -

Photography by John O’Donnell