The Dorsky hosts reception for new exhibition featuring work from five Hudson Valley collections

NEW PALTZ –The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art will hold a public reception for its new exhibition, “Linking Collections, Building Connections: Work from the Hudson Valley Visual Art Collections Consortium,” Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, 5 – 7 p.m.

The exhibition, which was organized by Dorsky Museum Curator Brian Wallace and Center for Photography at Woodstock Executive Director Ariel Shanberg, runs from Aug. 24 – Dec. 11, 2011.

This exhibition presents fresh perspectives on a century of artistic activity in the Mid-Hudson Valley. It brings to light more than 150 artworks and the connections that link them together. The exhibition gathers together paintings, sculptures, furnishings, prints, drawings, photographs and conceptual works from the permanent collections of the partner organizations that comprise the Hudson Valley Visual Art Collections Consortium (HVVACC).

The HVVACC organizations (the Center for Photography at Woodstock, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, Women’s Studio Workshop, Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, and the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild) are developing an online visual database, a series of events and publications, and a regional collection study and exhibition center.

Together, the collections of these five partner organizations are a significant regional resource. The “Linking Collections, Building Connections” exhibition is part of a long-range project to make these collections available to scholars and the public.

“Linking Collections, Building Connections” is organized into eight sections. An introductory section, Iconic Works, showcases significant works from each of the five collections. Subsequent sections address themes that touch each of the organizations: Making History, Printmaking, Circles of Affiliation, Case Study, Patronage and Kingston. A final section, the last, large wall of the exhibition, is The Cloud, a new project by artist Michael Asbill. It is a densely hung wall filled from floor to ceiling with works from all five of the collections including interactive computer stations that visitors can use to explore the collections online.

“Linking Collections, Building Connections” serves several purposes. It empowers visitors to make their own connections and interpretations; it serves as a jumping-off point for museum tours, regional exploration and other educational activities; and it indicates the scope of the opportunities presented by the Hudson Valley Visual Art Collections Consortium.

Funding for the printing of the exhibition catalog has been provided in part by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area’s Quadricentennial Implementation Grant Program funded by the National Park Service.

EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMS

September Professional Development Programs for Area Teachers

Ulster BOCES will host two-hour professional development workshops for high school teachers at the museum. These workshops will assist area educators to use the exhibition as a teaching tool for subjects from art techniques to local history. They are scheduled for Sept. 20, 27 and 30. For more information, contact Amy Poux, Ulster BOCES Instructional Services Coordinator for Arts in Education, Environmental Education and Talent Development at (845) 255-1402 ext.1369

Public Symposium

The Dorsky will host “Symposium on Region-Specific Art and Museum Practice” involving area artists, curators, historians, educators and theorists on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m. Visit the museum’s website for more information.

Group Tours

School and group tours in the areas of history, art and regional culture are available on a fee basis. For information and reservations, visit the museum’s website or call (845) 257-3844.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, located at SUNY New Paltz, is fast becoming the premier public showplace for exhibition, education, and cultural scholarship about the Hudson Valley region’s art and artists from yesterday and today. With more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, the Dorsky Museum is one of the largest museums within the SUNY system.

This exhibition is part of a series of exhibitions celebrating The Dorsky’s tenth anniversary year and highlighting the museum’s focus on the art and artists of the Hudson Valley. The Dorsky was officially dedicated on Oct. 20, 2001. Since then it has presented over one hundred exhibitions, including commissions, collection-based projects, and in-depth studies of artists including Robert Morris, Alice Neel, Judy Pfaff and Carolee Schneemann.

For more information about The Dorsky Museum and its programs, visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/museum, or call (845) 257-3844.