1. PULSE: Dan Devine and Susan Jennings
At the Tanja Grunert Gallery in Hudson, the exhibition "PULSE: Dan Devine and Susan Jennings" combines sculptures with a performative installation, inviting viewers to explore how material spaces can transcend our everyday experiences. Devine’s piece, “Nimbus” (2024), crafted from molded leather and raw lamb’s wool, appears to twist in on itself, while the smooth ceramic sculpture “Stride” stands tall and powerful in its raw red hue. Jennings’s work embodies her experiences with death, shaped by her years as a professional nurse. Her installation, “Out of Body,” features diverse materials such as bells, thread, wire, chimes, stones, porcelain, and a mattress, activated by a live performance from Faye Ross, creating a sacred space for contemplation on our transformation from this life to the next.
2. Hans Frank: Cosmic Art
The late Johannes (Hans) Frank, a World War II refugee, and an unsung hero is celebrated in "Hans Frank: Cosmic Art" at Hudson Hall, located in the historic Opera House. This exhibition showcases around 100 paintings and works on paper that have not been publicly displayed in over fifty years. Inspired by the night sky viewed through a telescope and scientific theories about the cosmos, Frank’s vibrant, swirling compositions reflect the universe's radiant vibrations. His piece “Out of the Blue” (c. 1986) features explosive oil paint explorations resembling graffiti, while “Still Life with Stars” (1967) hints at modernist influences. The exhibition, lovingly preserved by Frank’s sister Renata, offers a rare posthumous glimpse into the artist’s remarkable work.
3. Sydney Cash: Being Seeing
At the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, Sydney Cash utilizes Flutex, a commercial pattern glass from the 1930s and '40s, to create vibrant contemporary wall sculptures that seem to dance. By reimagining this playful glass product, once used for privacy in offices and showers, Cash produces both retro and modern works. Her piece “Triumph” (1989–2024) features a three-part panel of Flutex glass, computer-generated drawings, lighting, a mirror, and fabric, with a wavy strip above that gives the illusion of movement. Other works like “Rubic” (1983–2024) and “Slow Boat to China” (1982–2023) resonate with harmonious forms, transforming the artworks into vehicles for meditative visual experiences.
4. Solo Presentation of Takuji Hamanaka
Geary Contemporary in Millerton presents a solo exhibition featuring Takuji Hamanaka’s vivid collaged woodblock prints, celebrating his engagement with Bokashi, a 19th-century Japanese woodblock printing technique. Hamanaka uses the grid as a creative foundation, exploring geometric gradients and abstract patterns to produce colorful works that pulse with playful purpose. Pieces like “Mountain Stream” (2022) and “Downpour” (2022) embody the natural flow of their titles, while two similarly titled works, “Tower” (2023), radiate a rainbow-like energy. Hamanaka’s background as a stained glass restorer enhances his sensitivity to light and color arrangement in these captivating pieces.
5. Layers in Motion: Alyce Gottesman, Lotte Petricone, Mary Ann Strandell
This visually striking exhibition features three women artists exploring the effects of layering. Alyce Gottesman draws from her rural East Coast upbringing and her experiences with light in California, creating improvisational works like “Jazzy Splash” (2022) and “As The Spirit Moves You” (2021). Lotte Petricone uses print images as a basis for her paintings, experimenting with color and texture to explore space and movement, exemplified in “Swimming Through Skies” (2021), where a bewildered man encounters a woman gracefully sailing above. Mary Ann Strandell blends aesthetic elements from various art historical periods, including Baroque and Modernism, as seen in “Floating Worlds/Birds 1” (2019–20), depicting lively winged creatures in a whimsical setting.
6. 2024 Visual Arts Exhibition at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park
The Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli is showcasing its annual visual arts exhibition, curated by Hilary Greene. This year's event features the work of eight talented Hudson Valley artists, displayed throughout the park's scenic grounds along the Hudson River. Visitors can explore a variety of installations, including Emil Alzamora’s cement sculpture “Polaris” (2023), which depicts a figure in a sacred yogic pose, and Sequoyah Aono’s contemplative wood sculpture “Self Head 2” (2023). Ashley Lyon’s “Meteor” (2020) presents a severed foot made of white stoneware, while Arthur Gibbons’s whimsical “Kaatsbaalloon #1” (2024) features a large yellow weather balloon nestled among wooden beams.
7. Frances Segismundo: Memor
At Distortion Society in Beacon, Frances Segismundo unveils her latest exhibition titled "Memor." Drawing inspiration from aerial landscape photography, Segismundo's series of multi-layered works on paper blend acrylic, oil pastel, colored pencil, and pen. Her pieces, such as “Undergrowth” and “Beneath the Surface” (both 2024), showcase a vibrant interplay of organic shapes and floral designs. The exhibition culminates in “Qualia,” where an ochre sun nurtures a dance of fanciful forms, embodying her exploration of balance and movement.
8. Understories
As summer transitions to fall, the Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson presents "Understories," featuring mixed media works by six women artists. Eileen Murphy’s oil painting “The Trees Lean in Like Conspirators” (2024) radiates autumnal warmth, while Rinal Parikh’s “April Showers” (2021) hints at future joys. Allyson Levy’s “Biomorphic Flourishes” (2023) bursts with life, and abstract expressionist pieces like Ragellah Rourke’s “Night Swim” (2024) and Anne Francey’s “Joyful Pain” (2023) enchant viewers. A standout work is Annika Tucksmith’s “The Turkey in the Late-Afternoon” (2024), depicting a bird by a river, evoking a nostalgic end-of-summer sentiment.
9. Michelle Segre: Der Wolley Eulb 07
At the former studio of American Abstract Expressionist painter Al Held in Boiceville, Michelle Segre’s solo exhibition, organized by River Valley Arts Collective for the Al Held Foundation, showcases seven new site-specific works. Using mixed media like steel, yarn, and ceramics, Segre’s installation blends creative engineering with quasi-scientific structures. Pieces like “Sigmudrite II” resemble a spiderweb with planets, while “Voidsoprtion 003” invites viewers into its black hole center, balancing the tangible and the supernatural.
10. Assembly 3
Curator Dakin Hart and founder Bosco Sodi present "Assembly 3" at the 25,000-square-foot Assembly in Monticello, in collaboration with Jack Hanley Gallery, Kasmin Gallery, and Tina Kim Gallery. This exhibition marks the third presentation at this industrial venue. Featured works include Johnny Abrahams’ austere paintings, such as “Untitled” (2024), which highlight the enduring influence of Minimalism. Alma Allen’s “Not Yet Titled” (2021) offers a unique take on beauty using Persian travertine marble, while Davide Balliano’s “Untitled_0291” (2024) explores retro-abstract geometric patterns. Complementing these are various clay sculptures from Bosco Sodi’s Untitled series (2017–20), creating a powerful visual experience.
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
