Exhibition Archive

October 18, 2009 - January 24, 2010
Bold, Cautious, True: Walt Whitman and American Art of the Civil War Era

This landmark exhibition takes its themes from a troubled era in American history and its title from a Walt Whitman poem. Whitman’s elegiac words introduce the portraits, landscapes, battlefield scenes, and genre pictures that depict the heroism of the common soldier, the flight of escaped slaves, and the courage of the women and children left behind. Bold, Cautious, True features the work of some of the most important American artists of the mid-19th century, including Frederic E. Church, Sanford Gifford, Winslow Homer, Eastman Johnson, John Frederick Kensett, and Worthington Whittredge.

October 18, 2009 - January 24, 2010
Hudson River Trilogy: Alison Moritsugu

Themes of exploration and conquest abound in Alison Moritsugu’s contemporary reinterpretations of 19th-century Hudson River School art. Her landscape paintings on cut logs appear as homage’s to the idyllic art of the past, yet any sense of nostalgia is negated by the surface on which they are painted. Likewise, her new wallpaper installation, while beautiful, depicts invasive plants that threaten to destroy the native flora of the Hudson River Valley.

October 18, 2009 - January 24, 2010
Brian Selznick's Walt Whitman: Words for America

Discover the world of Walt Whitman through Caldecott Medal-winner Brian Selznick’s magnificent illustrations for the book Walt Whitman: Words for America. Each original painting captures the mood and thoughts of America’s celebrated poet as he experiences the Civil War first hand.

The Learning Center offers a unique starting point for an exploration of both the Civil War and one of its premier chroniclers. Read Walt Whitman’s poetry; see how he left home to find his wounded brother; write and illustrate your own special poems.

July 12 - October 4, 2009
Dress Codes: Clothing as Metaphor

Toward the end of the 20th century, many artists seized upon the idea and form of clothing as a subject for their work. The 36 artists in Dress Codes use clothing to explore a variety of issues ranging from feminine concern, racial stereotyping, and immigration to globalization, current events, and the violence of war. Many of the works explore a number of these subjects concurrently, reflecting the complexity of contemporary life.

Artists: Ray Beldner, Sanford Biggers, Barbara Bloom, Louise Bourgeois, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Nick Cave, Cat Chow, Sonya Clark, Willie Cole, Maureen Connor, E.V. Day, Mónica Girón, Guerra de la Paz, Joseph Havel, Oliver Herring, Bingyi Huang, Mella Jaarsma, Wang Jin, Rashid Johnson, Kate Kretz, Charles LeDray, Susie MacMurray, Derick Melander, Yael Mer, Farhad Moshiri, Luca Pizzaroni, Elaine Reichek, Freddie Robins, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, Beverly Semmes, Judith Shea, Jean Shin, Mimi Smith, Susan Stockwell, Do-Ho Suh , Cheryl Yun

July 12 - October 4, 2009
Hudson River Trilogy: Ellen Kozak

Ellen Kozak is the second artist in a series of solo exhibitions showcasing contemporary artwork inspired by the Hudson River. Her lyrical waterscapes straddle the line between representation and abstraction. Without the reference of horizon lines, viewers are immersed in molten scenes with saturated hues and subtle movement. This exhibition will include recent paintings along with a new work in digital media.