The 2014 edition of the annual Hudson Valley Artists Exhibition, “Worlds of Wonder” will be on display in The Dorsky’s Alice and Horace Chandler and North Galleries from Saturday, June 21 to Sunday, Nov. 9.
The Hudson Valley Artists exhibition, one of The Dorsky’s signature annual art shows, is curated from an open call for emerging and mid-career artists who live and actively practice their craft in the Hudson Valley, according to The Dorsky’s website.
“Worlds of Wonder” is curated by Dayton Director of the Tang Museum at Skidmore College, Ian Berry, who is working with Dorsky Curator Daniel Belasco on the exhibition.
Berry’s guidelines for submissions involved the way artists bring together disparate elements into a singular work, or a cluster of related images or objects. Berry’s call to submission explored the extent to which science, nature, architecture, design and history weave in and out of contemporary art making.
When deciding on the exhibition’s theme, Berry said he wanted to come up with something that would attract different types of artists.
He was also inspired by his appreciation of wonders and the history of museums.
According to Berry, museums began from the German concept of “cabinets of wonder,” which were private collections of objects that would show off the owners’ intellectual and interdisciplinary interests.
“I’ve been very inspired by those private museums,” Berry said. “They’re very similar to how artists go into the studio and bring in all of their interests — from current events to politics, family, environment, things going on locally, all different things that mix.”
Berry said the theme also reflects the notion of interdisciplinary curiosity, similar to the life of a college student “where you’re mixing all of those experiences into how you think about yourself in the world.”
This is Berry’s first time working with SUNY New Paltz and he said he’s very excited to look at the work of local artist. He aslo said he has admired Belasco’s curatorial work for many years.
Belasco said there have not been any challenges involved in choosing artists and pieces to be exhibited.
“[The artists] are a delightful group and the works are highly appealing in the way they remix and assemble disparate elements into visually rich imagery,” Belasco said.
Berry said he thinks the group of artists represent a diverse group of artwork, as they are different from each other in materials and style. He said there were more than 300 applicants who responded to the call for submission, a number narrowed down to 16 for the final exhibition.
Angela Voulgarelis, a Hudson Valley resident and one of the featured artists, is creating her installation in the gallery, “using the space to create as opposed to just representing a finished piece.”
According to Voulgarelis, the installation, called “Paperwork,” is a gathering of close to 100 small-scale sculptures created by the juxtaposition of found images, discarded paper, recycled stretcher bars, and painted cast porcelain.
“[‘Worlds of Wonders’] is very in line with what’s going on in the greater contemporary art world. It’s good to meet people in the local arts community and showing together,” Voulgarelis said. “I’m honored to be a part of it of the show.”
“Worlds of Wonders” opening reception is on Monday, June 23, from 5 to 7 p.m.