The Dorsky held a public reception for its new exhibit, “Linking Collections, Building Connections: Work from the Hudson Valley Visual Arts Collections Consortium” on Saturday, Sept. 17. The exhibit brings together 150 pieces of art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, printmaking and drawings from the Hudson Valley Visual Arts Collections Consortium (HVVACC).
Brian Wallace, organizer of the exhibit and curator for the Dorsky, said criteria for the work selected to be in this exhibit was mostly locations and landscape. Wallace wanted to bring together art of all kinds that share the overriding theme of the Hudson Valley.
“We built on what we had,” said Wallace. “It’s not traditional art history. We wanted to put together pieces that would tell a set of stories about this region.”
Wallace hopes the exhibit, which is divided up into eight different sections and sub-themes, is something that “challenges what comes to mind when people think about the Hudson Valley.”
Linda Hart, of New Paltz, said she was “pleasantly surprised” by the exhibit after not knowing a lot about it prior to the reception.
“I came because I knew a few of the artists,” said Hart. “I was not aware of the theme until now.”
Hart especially took to the photography section of this Kingston/Rosendale area.
“It’s great to support local artists,” said Hart.
Susan Griss another attendee of the event, had similar feelings toward the exhibit. To her, the art connects people of various towns of the Hudson Valley. The historical photographs stood out for Griss.
“You could really see the continuity. From looking at the older pictures you can tell, some things haven’t changed,” said Griss.
Like Hart, she said she was happy to be surrounded by pieces of art that reflect the places she has been from. She said the overall sentiment was something that “makes you proud.”
First-year student Franchesca Chatillo currently works at the Dorsky and especially liked the exhibit based on the Cramer family.
“I like it, because I enjoy looking at things from an older time,” Chatillo said. “I really like this section because it’s a preserved piece of history.”
Wallace is extremely proud of the collection he has obtained for this exhibit. Looking toward the future, he hopes to build stronger connections with the HVVACC as they are in the works to create a long-range project will showcase online works from all organizations involved.
Upon leaving, Wallace believes visitors will see the diversity in art from the Hudson Valley.
“[I hope they] tune into what they are looking at and recognize that these pieces are not natural or an accident, but carefully constructed,” said Wallace.
The works are constructed in a way that evokes the theme of the Hudson Valley.
“Linking Collections, Building Connections: Work from the Hudson Valley Visual Arts Collections Consortium” is open through Dec. 11 in the Morgan Anderson Gallery, Howard Greenberg Family Gallery and Cooridor Gallery.