Reflecting on Peter Liman’s Legacy

By Matthew Avitabile

WINDHAM — The Mountaintop lost one of its most creative artists and determined volunteers after he passed away Oct. 7. The Navy veteran, corporate executive, and inventor ran the popular Big Hollow Art Studio in Maplecrest and was involved with many local causes for years.

After his death, friends remembered Liman’s legacy as a significant driver of the arts and community events in Windham. We spoke to Paul and Sheila Trautman of the Windham Arts Alliance about their fond memories of Liman.

He wrote a book called The Monet of the Mountaintop available at Briars & Brambles Bookstore in Windham.

Peter Liman was a major figure in the formation of the Windham Arts Alliance and was involved since around 2003. He came up with the “brilliant idea” of the sandcastle contest in CD Lane Park in Maplecrest. He got the cooperation of the Town of Windham to use CD Lane Park and to donate the sand and the Windham Foundation to donate money to make the sand castle competition possible. Liman got videos of how sandcastles were done in Florida to bring ideas into the school district and organize volunteers. The effort was closely tied between WAA and WAJ Central School.

Liman grew a smaller studio tour into Arts Fest that grew into larger parts of the Mountaintop. Trautman credits him as having “really pushed it” to grow. Over time, it became a major tent event in town.

“He was really good at getting people to help,” he said.

Paul Trautman said that his fondest memory of Peter was of him helping kids build sandcastles at CD Lane.

Liman made sure to organize people to enjoy different studios, including his own studio, supported by his wife Reggie Feinstein.

“They acted like a team,” said Paul Trautman. Liman organized prizes for the contest and Feinstein would award them. Years ago, the WAA received a grant for the project.

Sheila Trautman remembers Liman shoveling sand for the event and organizing others to help.

Paul Trautman said that Liman was instrumental in getting together sand for the project.

He added that Liman “did all of this while he was very sick” but “never complained.”

Twenty years ago Liman was diagnosed as having six months to live and yet continued his commitment to the community.

The group teamed up with the Bataviakill Festival and at Country Suites Bed & Breakfast the team organized to raise money for arts activities for kids.

For years of service to the community, Liman will be missed but through his efforts and those of many others, his legacy will live on.