April 11th 2025
Rivertowns Dispatch Newspaper
Article by Amy Bochner, Photo Credit: The Dispatch
"A new mural brightening the snack bar at McDowell Park is the work of Sara Joy Annapolen, an Ardsley resident who seeks to bring whimsy and “intentional joy” to community settings through her art.
Upon graduating from Syracuse University in 2008, Annapolen began her career in fashion design, during the course of which she worked for Jump Apparel, Ranjana Khan, City Prints, and Dressbarn.
“I loved working in the city for a variety of different fashion companies, and most of the focus was on print design,” she told the Dispatch. “Prints and patterns take up most of my brain space.”
After the birth of her second child, and just before the Covid-19 pandemic, Annapolen was laid off from her job, leading her to take a chance and start her own business. The result was “Sara Joy,” a collection of resort wear featured at Bloomingdale’s. Annapolen created her own prints and fabric, tying in her professional background.
Then, last year she reevaluated and decided to make a change.
“The fashion industry is such a beast,” she said. “I had to admit to myself that I didn't want that lifestyle anymore. It's so draining. My kids are little, and I really didn't want to waste my life away being stressed. I had to step back and admit that I didn't love it, even though I thought it was a dream come true.”
A collaboration with Terez, an activewear company for which Annapolen embellished vintage Levi's denim jackets, made her realize she wanted her art to be on “a true canvas.” This led to her first gallery exhibit last summer at the Idea Kitchen in Larchmont.
Under the same name as her resort brand, Annapolen’s new business has three components: murals, Judaica, and commissioned paintings. She describes her art style as “modern, fun, and playful,” with elements of graffiti and spray paint.
The rebranding of “Sara Joy” was difficult, she said, but worth it.
“I emerged on the other side a completely new person… It's really cool to watch this part of my career come to life,” she said. “I have notebooks from when I was 6, 7, 8 years old, saying, ‘When I grow up, I want to be an artist.’ I learned so much from the resort wear part of my business, and I feel so happy doing this part now.”
The first mural she painted was for The Lark, the women’s fitness studio and social space on South Buckhout Street in Irvington that’s owned by fellow Ardsley resident Lindsay Gerspach. Annapolen described that project, which covers a 25-foot-long and 12-foot-high wall, as a turning point for her.
“That mural was insane to work on because it was so big and so much planning,” she said. “I used a projector to trace the design for two days, and then I had to learn how to stand on a construction scaffolding to do it. It was amazing.”
Working on a large piece also served as a learning experience.
“Commercial projects versus a custom, smaller painting, are a chance to exercise a different skill, like intentional design and color editing,” she said. “[It’s] different skills versus something that's more of a stream of consciousness, like flow-state expressionistic painting.”
In December, she painted a mural for oHHo, the botanical wellness shop on Main Street in Irvington. That piece features a leafy, floral arch.
Most recently, and closer to home, is the McDowell Park project. In the fall, board members of the Ardsley Little League asked if she would be interested in helping them upgrade the snack bar. The opportunity was immediately appealing.
“McDowell is such a huge part of our town,” she said. “Both of my children [Hazel, 6, and Liam, 8] play Little League. The snack bar’s where everyone hangs out. It's a beautiful, safe place to be as families, as a town.”
Annapolen consulted with the Ardsley Arts Commission and Mayor Nancy Kaboolian on the design and logistics of the mural, which features baseball gloves, bats, and helmets. She finished painting it in mid-March, with some assistance from Liam.
“From all the fields, the parking lot, and when you're driving by, you get to see this artwork, so the idea is positive quotes. Liam, who loves Babe Ruth, helped me with some of the quotes,” she said. “We brainstormed together… inspirational, child friendly, cute quotes… It has a pop-y, comic-y feeling. It's the new selfie backdrop.”
Next up for Annapolen is a mural at a pool in northern Westchester, the specifics of which she has yet to share. Having her work shown around the county, she said, makes her “heart sing.”
“It's my calling, and it's wonderful to see it come to life,” she said. “I hope that more [murals] come about… that can become conversation starters and selfie backdrops. Life is so short and not that serious, and adding color — anywhere I can — really comes from my soul.”
Annapolen’s work can be found on Instagram @shopsarajoy, and her website, shopsarajoy.com