Out and about in our region, looking at, talking about... ART

Garnett Puett's work on display at the School.

Digesting the works at the end of our visit.

Summer art field trips started out strong and local with a visit to The School in Kinderhook, NY. This old public school turned gallery was opened by Jack Shainman two years ago. Our community is extremely fortunate to have such a thoughtful and beautifully renovated art space just down the road.

Three of us carpooled over from Chatham and upon arriving learned that two more folks were waiting for us. Through an impromptu conversation with a young woman who greeted us at the door, we were offered a wonderful tour. Rachel Fainter, a collections manager at the School provided us with wonderful insights about the artists and their works.  She was very informed as she had written much of the information printed next to the artist works.

The group show: A Change of Place: Four Solo Exhibitions includes four artists, Pierre Dorion, Hayv Kahraman, Richard Mosse, and Garnett Puett “converge on themes of transformation, environment, and remembrance,” as the website states.

Several very interesting threads of conversation emerged as we looked, listened, and discussed.  How beauty can bring the viewer in and then create a space for contemplation and unpacking big or sometimes difficult ideas our society is confronted with. Or, what is collaboration and can humans successfully coexist with other creatures or the environment and what this might look like. This show is up until October 29th. The School is open on Saturdays from 11am-5pm, and by appointment.  The address is 25 Broad Street, Kinderhook, NY 12106   tel. +1 518-758-1628 

Where will the next art field trip take us?  Would you like to go with us? Come along and enjoy the company and have an interesting conversation about Contemporary Art. Stop by the Chatham Public Library (11 Woodbridge Ave, Chatham, NY 12037 Phone: 518-392-3666) to learn more and leave your contact info for upcoming trips.