Seeing the Hudson: An Exhibition of Photographs and Paintings on the Occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson’s Sail of Discovery September 17th - October 31st, 2009 Opening Reception: Thursday, September 17, 6-8 pm Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, Noon-6 pm or by appointment Alan Klotz Gallery, 511 West 25th Street, #701 New York, NY 10001 212.741.4764 [log in to unmask] www.klotzgallery.com As part of the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson’s sail of discovery, we offer, Seeing the Hudson, a major exhibition of paintings and photographs, which show the river over a period of more than 200 years, from its source in the Adirondacks, to its mouth, 315 miles away in Upper New York Bay. Our show begins with work by the 19th century painters of the Hudson River School, arguably the first American art movement, and continues through more contemporary painting and photographs. The exhibition demonstrates the variety of faces that the River presents. And, of course, the work we have selected reflects the vision of the individual artists, who are constantly filtering perception, and coping with the intrinsic characteristics of their media to determine what makes it into the frame, and how those images appear. In general, 19th century Hudson River School painters saw the River as an almost holy, pristine, primeval landscape, where settlers (if present at all) lived in harmony with an all powerful “Nature“. Photographers (partially due to the nature of their medium) were more interested in the real than the ideal. To them, the profound effect of the “hand of man“ on the environment is what gave proof of man’s dominion over Nature, and was itself a source of pride for a developing nation. Of course, in more recent times, man’s impact on the environment has engendered a more negative judgment. Irony and severe criticism have become part of the view as a spur to environmental action by those who love the River and want to protect, defend, and restore it. All these motivations find form in our exhibition. The river is where the choices begin, but it is in the variety of visions on display here where the truth about the Hudson as a place and as an idea ultimately emerges Marilyn E. Douglas, NNI/NNP Coordinator New Netherland Institute Cultural Ed Center, Room 10D45 310 Madison Avenue Albany NY 12230-0001 Phone 518.408.1212 (w) Tues, Wed 518.489.0418 (h) Fax 518.473.0472 Mobile: 518.495.5993 Email: [log in to unmask]