The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz is pleased to announce that it will be acquiring new artwork by a regional artist for its permanent collection: Search and selections from Swipe by Adam Chau.
Chau’s ceramic works are reflections on digital culture, from selfies and text messages to ethereal data stored in “the cloud”; yet his practice is based in ceramics, one of the oldest building materials.
“I’m excited for this series to be acquired by The Dorsky as I believe it reflects the 21st Century’s obsession with internet searches, meme culture, and the role of technology in our daily lives,” said Chau. “I hope that we can look back at this work as an archive of our morals and priorities, for better or worse.”
Chau is one of 26 Hudson Valley artists currently exhibiting at The Dorsky Museum as part of the 2022 installment of the annual Hudson Valley Artists series, “The Material, The Thing,” which includes work that investigates materials and their physical and cultural properties. The exhibition is guest curated by Nicole Hayes and on view at The Dorsky through Nov. 6, 2022.
One of the main elements of Chau’s work is cobalt, which is used in traditional blue-and-white porcelain as well as lithium-ion batteries that power iPhones and Tesla cars.
“Much of my work is tile-based and in the shape of electronics; I am interested in the smartphone being both a two-dimensional and three-dimensional object at the same time—much like a ceramic tile,” said Chau.
The acquisitions are made possible through The Dorsky’s Hudson Valley Artists Annual Purchase Award, which enables the Museum to acquire exceptional work by Hudson Valley artists and enrich its holdings in contemporary art from the region each year. The Purchase Award is supported by the Alice and Horace Chandler Art Acquisition Fund.
“We are thrilled to be able to include Adam’s timely and beautiful work in The Dorsky collection, stewarding his art for future generations,” said Anna Conlan, the Neil C. Trager Director of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. “Supporting our local community of artists is central to our mission, and the Hudson Valley Artists Purchase Award allows us to celebrate an outstanding artist in a tangible way.”
The next Hudson Valley Artists’ exhibition call will be available on the Museum’s website in fall 2023. Artists who wish to receive notification of the artists’ call can subscribe to the Museum’s email list at http://www.newpaltz.edu/museum.
Previous Hudson Valley Artist Purchase Award recipients include ransome, Annie Raife, Donise English, Kathy Greenwood, Libby Paloma, Jean-Marc Superville Sovak, Richard Edelman, Deb Lucke, Nestor Madalengoita, Holly Hughes, Stephen Niccolls, Patrick Kelley, Adie Russell, Gilbert Plantinga, Thomas Sarrantonio, François Deschamps, Curt Belshe and Lise Prown, Charles Geiger, Barbara Leon, Elisa Pritzker, Amy Talluto, and Mollie McKinley.
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.
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.
