Hudson, N.Y. — As summer wanes and the autumnal equinox nears, transition abounds in the natural world. Albeit in flux, the phenomenon is far from enigmatic. In fact, the arrival of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is marked by abundant clarity: September 22 is one of just two days when the sun—positioned directly above the equator—seemingly divides night and day into equal portions (hence the etymology of the word equinox, which derives from the Latin for “equal night”). As denizens of the region know all too well, daylight hours will markedly decrease between now and the winter solstice—the shortest, and by extension darkest, day of the year.
Alas, I digress.
The timing is nonetheless serendipitous for a trio of upstate artists who—having taken inspiration from the beauty of the Hudson Valley to create unique works of art that embody the complexity of the natural world—are part of a joint exhibition at Hudson Hall.
“Enigmatic Artists of the Hudson Valley”—featuring the work of Lois Guarino, Stan Lichens, Pete Mauney—stems, at its genesis, from keen observation. Whether a response to the surreal systems of fireflies, the slow degradation of the riverfront, or an exploration of the interconnectedness of all life on earth, each artist places the natural world front and center in their respective works—regardless of their chosen medium, each of which differs from the next.
Photographer Pete Mauney’s body of work explores the erratic and surreal systems of fireflies, whose bioluminescence is translated into pulsing green color fields through the artist’s camera. Based in the Hudson Valley, Mauney finds concentrations of individual and mixed regional firefly populations and attempts to capture not only their mass but also their “temporary ubiquity” through long camera exposures of the insects’ self-generated light. “Patterns of flash, seemingly random patterns of travel, unpredictability, and overwhelming beauty is the experience,” he says while underscoring the real boon: “I’ve been lucky enough to capture some reflections of that experience with my cameras.”
Lois Guarino takes a decidedly different approach, first painting—and then assembling—canvas mosaic squares to create powerful visual statements. Her largest piece to date, “The Wonder Wall,” comprises 1000 separate paintings. “I am a multimedia artist, and a student of the curriculum of being human, which includes deep reverence for animals,” says Guarino who uses oil paint “to create images exploring the interconnectedness of all life on earth and our origins in the complex, mysterious universe.”
For two decades, Stan Lichens has enjoyed walks along the Hudson riverfront; in the ensuing years, he has noticed a gradual rising of the river height and its slow destruction of the coastline trees and habitat. A decision to document this phenomenon, using photogrammetry—a process employing software to create 3D forms of objects photographed from multiple angles—resulted in myriad models made using a 3D printer coupled with environmentally friendly corn resin which was meticulously copper-leafed and patinated.
Hudson Hall, an historic and landmarked building housing New York State’s oldest surviving theater, has long played host to artists from the region and beyond. Frederic Church and Sanford Gifford (of the first and second generation of Hudson River School artists, respectively) showed paintings there in the 19th century; Albany-born writer Bret Harte read poems; “Blind Tom” Wiggins packed the house with his virtuosity on the piano; Henry Ward Beecher presented a rousing abolitionist lecture; Susan B. Anthony visited thrice; and Teddy Roosevelt regaled a crowd. The current exhibit, which opened September 2, will be on display through November 22.
NOTE: Hudson Hall’s programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Governor and the New York Legislature. To plan your visit, and view the organization’s full COVID-19 policy, visit this link.
