The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz is delighted to present “Mary Frank: The Observing Heart,” an exhibition of Mary Frank’s powerful artwork that spans her career of more than six decades. This retrospective exhibition is part of The Dorsky’s Hudson Valley Masters series and is centered on the twin themes of social justice and the preservation of the natural world.
The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 5 – July 17, 2022, in The Dorsky’s Morgan Anderson Gallery and Howard Greenberg Family Gallery.
Use this link for more information on Mary Frank: The Observing Heart.
About the Exhibition
Acclaimed artist and activist Mary Frank has been making art in her Manhattan and Hudson Valley studios for more than 60 years. She is an independent spirit who emerged during the years of rising feminism in the early 1970s and has always followed a personal vision distinct from prevailing art world fashion. The upcoming exhibition is a gathering of sculpture, painting, drawings, prints and photographs from throughout her illustrious career.
Mary Frank’s lifelong artmaking began in Manhattan in the early 1950s. During her formative years, she made semi-abstract figures carved from wood and plaster. A shift to clay in the late 1960s was a revelation as she discovered an improvisatory process that was a perfect match for her artistic sensibility.
In the early 1970s, she broke into public view with distinctive clay sculptures of the female form. Since then, she has made critically acclaimed work in a broad range of media that includes sculptures in clay, cast bronze, and plaster, along with paintings, drawings, prints and photographs.
Beyond the studio, Mary is an ardent activist for social and environmental causes and a tireless advocate of Solar Cookers International, an organization that provides women in areas of energy poverty with solar-powered cookers.
The exhibition, “Mary Frank: The Observing Heart” is a career overview of a brave artist who has never compromised her beliefs about art or life.
Exhibition Programs
The Dorsky will offer a number of online exhibition-related programs and events to the public throughout the spring. For the latest information about public programs please visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/museum or call (845) 257-3844.
Safety during COVID
At The Dorsky, safety comes first. Visitors are required to wear masks and maintain a distance of six feet between households or groups at all times. Galleries have a maximum visitor capacity to allow for safe social distancing. Hand-sanitizing stations are available for visitors upon entering the Museum, and we are conducting frequent cleaning. Please sanitize your hands upon entry and if you are feeling unwell please stay home. Please limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring to the Museum as we will not be offering coat or bag storage. Thank you for helping us keep the community safe.
About The Dorsky Museum
Through its collections, exhibitions and public programs, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art supports and enriches the academic programs at the College and serves as a center for Hudson Valley arts and culture. With more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, The Dorsky Museum is one of the largest museums in the SUNY system. Since its official dedication in 2001, The Dorsky has presented more than 100 exhibitions, including commissions, collection-based projects, and in-depth studies of contemporary artists including Robert Morris, Alice Neel, Judy Pfaff, Carolee Schneemann and Ushio Shinohara.
Funding for The Dorsky’s exhibitions and programs is provided by the Friends of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art and SUNY New Paltz.
Museum Hours
Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, holidays and intersessions.
For more information about The Dorsky Museum and its programs, visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/museum or call (845) 257-3844.
