AIHA exhibitions, programs and events: September–December 2014

The following is a listing of current exhibitions appearing at the Albany Institute of History & Art from September through December 2014, as well as a listing of family programs, special events, lectures, presentations, book signings and other related activities. All dates, times and details are subject to change and should be confirmed prior to publication or broadcast. 

exHIBITIONS

CURRENT

SUMMER EXPOSURE: Photographic Works by Martin Benjamin, Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Tom Fels, Dana Hoey, and William Jaeger

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Works from five regional photographers come together this summer at the Albany Institute. The exhibition offers five uniquely different ventures into photographic vision, media, and artistic conception. Each photographer was given the freedom to select the content for his or her own exhibition. For Hoey and Fels that meant focusing on a single series, and for Blackwood, the single theme “elements of place.” The content selected by both Benjamin and Jaeger offer retrospective overviews of each photographer’s work. In total, the variety of subject matter and photographic media makes for an exciting summer of discovery. Main Floor Galleries

SMALL + SEDUCTIVE: Contemporary Art from the Albany Institute’s Collection

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Sometimes intimate, occasionally intricate, but always intriguing, small works of art invite us to step close and peer into their spatially bounded world. This exhibition is the third in a series to highlight the contemporary art collection. It features artwork of small proportions by some of the Upper Hudson Valley’s most ingenious and talented artists- paintings and sculpture that captivate within limited dimensions. Lansing Gallery

OPENINGS

2014 EXHIBITION BY ARTISTS OF THE MOHAWK-HUDSON REGION

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014–JANUARY 19, 2015

The Albany Institute of History & Art is pleased to present the 78^th Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region. Established in 1936, this annual, juried exhibition pays tribute to the many talented artists working within a 100-mile radius of the Capital District and Glens Falls. As one of the longest-running regional art exhibitions in the country, it occupies a significant role in documenting contemporary art activity in the Upper Hudson Valley. This year’s juror, Stephen Westfall, is an internationally-known painter, writer, and professor. He was born in Schenectady, New York and is currently an Associate Professor and Graduate Director at The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and Painting Co-Chair at The Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College. Artist selections and prize winners will be announced at the Opening Reception on Friday, September 26, from 5PM-8PM. A complete listing of pieces and prize winners will be available in an exhibition catalogue. Main Floor Galleries

UNDERCOVER: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets and Bed Hangings

OCTOBER 11, 2014–MARCH 8, 2015

In the private space of the bedroom, the world takes center stage. There, on the elevated platform of the bed, matters of politics, international trade, social events, religion, and cultural affairs come alive in the elaborate designs and patterns displayed on American quilts, coverlets, and bed furnishings. Bed covers of all types are the perfect canvas for displaying ideas about the world beyond the bedroom door. They make connections to foreign lands and fabricate realms of fantasy and childhood whimsy. This exhibition investigates the designs and patterns that decorate American bedcovers of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. More than thirty bed covers and complementary objects reveal a variety of imagery used by American women and men to decorate their bed covers.  Due to the light-sensitive nature of these textiles, these pieces are rarely on view and many have not been on public display for over thirty years. We are pleased to present them in this exhibition. Lansing Galleries

ONGOING

Ancient Egypt
Egyptologist and Guest Curator Dr. Peter Lacovara has incorporated the research and scientific discoveries revealed in the GE Presents: The Mystery of the Albany Mummies exhibition into a new exhibition about Ancient Egypt that opened in August 2014. Visitors to the museum will continue to enjoy the story of the Albany Mummies, learn about the history of Ancient Egypt, and see how the intersection of new science, technology, and scholarship changes how we learn. In addition to the story of Mummy Ankhefenmut, themes and topics in the new galleries include: Egyptian History and Civilization; The Nile and the Environment; Crafts and Professions; Food and Drink; Gods and Goddesses; and Preparing for the Afterlife.

Jabbur and Heinrich Medicus Galleries

The hudson river school and the nineteenth-century landscape

Artists of the Hudson River School painted and sketched a variety of landscapes during the fifty-year period from 1825 to 1875. The American wilderness, which has now come to define the school, represents only one. These same artists similarly painted scenes of rural farms and gardens, manufacturing facilities and scenic tourist sites. Their works portray a visual history of the American landscape during decades of rapid change and transformation. This exhibition draws from the Albany Institute’s collection and includes paintings by several artists associated with the Hudson River School, including Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, Frederic Church, Jasper Cropsey, James and William Hart, Alfred Thompson Bricher, and others. Third Floor Round and Square Galleries

NINETEENTH-Century AMERICAN SculpturE
Erastus Dow Palmer and His Proteges: Launt Thompson, Charles Calverley, and Richard Park

Designed to showcase the museum’s nationally known collection of mid- to late nineteenth-century sculpture, this exhibition features twenty plaster, marble, and bronze sculptures and framed bas-reliefs by Albany sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer and his three studio assistants and protégés, Launt Thompson, Charles Calverley, and Richard Park. Sculpture Court

Traders and Culture: Colonial Albany and the Formation of American Identity

The character and culture of Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley have roots in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the early inhabitants of the region, and their beliefs, relationships, and interactions. This exhibition looks at those diverse peoples who shaped colonial Albany, and the objects that reflect their interests, values, commercial and social interactions. Colonial Gallery

A GATHER OF GLASS: Selections from the Museum’s Collection
The exhibition includes a selection of blown, molded, pressed, and cut glass pieces from the Institute’s collection, many manufactured in the northeast United States. A selection of colored glass showcases the American predilection for both clear glass pieces, and vibrant, experimental glass of many hues. Atrium

ROBERT HEWSON PRUYN: An Albanian in Japan, 1862-1865
This small library exhibition features highlights from the Albany Institute’s collection of private papers from Robert Hewson Pruyn (1815-1882), the second U.S. minister to Japan appointed by President Abraham Lincoln. The papers include detailed weekly correspondence with family that recount Pruyn’s travels, his audience with the Japanese Tycoon, and the travails of his diplomatic mission in Japan during the Bakumatsu era. Included are some of the earliest photographic views of Yedo (Tokyo), 1863.  Lobby

UPCOMING (2015)

TRIPLE PLAY: Baseball at the Albany Institute

FEBRUARY 7, 2015-JULY 12, 2015

Opening on February 7, 2015, the museum will be presenting three exhibitions celebrating our passion for baseball. Baseball: America’s Game is a travelling exhibition organized by the Bank of America. Drawn from their collection of nationally significant baseball materials, this multimedia exhibition features more than ninety photographs, illustrations, objects, and audio and video programs that bring to life the history of the American sport that has provided common ground and decades of enjoyment for fans across the nation. Funding for this exhibition is provided by the Bank of America Art in our Communities Program. Play Ball: Baseball in the Capital Region will highlight the area’s rich history of baseball and include materials from the Institute’s collection as well as loans from community members and public collections. From beloved pitcher Meldon Wolfgang and memories of Bleecker Stadium to the Albany Senators, visitors will discover our region’s deeply rooted love of baseball. The Locker Room: Baseball Memorabilia from the Community will borrow entirely from area collectors and will highlight baseball memories and memorabilia from coast to coast.

LECTURES, FAMILY PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS

ONGOING

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM–‘TUTE FOR TOTS
TUESDAYS | 10–11:30 AM (ages 3-5 with an adult)

‘Tute for Tots classes give children, and parents a chance to discover the Albany Institute, and the world of art together. In this program we’ll explore in the galleries, read stories, have a great time with sensory play exploration, and create our own exciting art projects. Each class builds upon the previous weeks, and registration includes all 7 weeks ($60 members; $70 non-members). Register on our website http://www.albanyinstitute.org or by calling (518) 463-4478, ext. 405.

Early Fall Session: Color Join us for a bright and artistic time as we discover color within the Institute’s collection! We’ll create our own colorful artwork using methods like dip and dye, shaving cream painting, collage, and more!

September 9: Colors                       October 7: Green

September 16: Red                         October 14: Purple

September 23: Yellow                    October 21: Orange

September 30: Blue

Late Fall Session: Shape This session we’ll be discovering shapes and how they’re used in art. In the studio we’ll create our artwork using methods like simple printmaking, and painting. We’ll also watch things take shape as we practice our scissor skills, and make great pictures like tangrams!

                October 28: Shapes                         December 2: Diamond

                November 4: Circle                         December 9: Rectangle

                November 18: Square                    December 16: Heart

                November 25: Triangle

PUBLIC PROGRAM– GALLERY TALKS

SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, and SPECIAL HOLIDAYS|1 PM and 3:30PM

Enjoy a docent-led tour of the Albany Institute’s newest exhibitions and permanent collections. Schedule is subject to change, please call (518) 463-4478 to confirm. Free with museum admission.

                September 27, 28                            November 1, 2                                  December 6, 7

                October 4, 5                                       November 8, 9                                  December 13, 14

                October 11, 12, 13                            November 11                                    December 20, 21

                October 18, 19                                   November 15, 16                             December 27, 28

                October 25, 26                                   November 22, 23

                                                                                November 28, 29, 30

                 

FAMILY PROGRAM—Art for All

SATURDAYS, OCTOBER–MAY | 10 AM–4:30PM

Bring your family to the museum and spend the day being creative. Activities include paper pieced quilts, yarn lacing designs, printmaking, collage, and more! Watch for guest Art for All appearances by artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Regional exhibition. Specific dates of appearances will be updated onto the website, and e-newsletters. Free with museum admission

                October               11, 18, 25

                November          1, 8, 15, 22, 29

                December           6, 13, 20, 26, 27, 29, 30

SEPTEMBER

SPECIAL EVENT—1^st Friday

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 | 5–8 PM

The Albany Institute will be open for extended hours. Free admission

SPECIAL EVENT—BOOK LAUNCH & BEER TASTING

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 | 6–8 PM

Join us for the launch of Craig Gravina and Alan McCleod’s new book Upper Hudson Valley Beer, a 400-year history of brewing and beer-making in our region from the arrival of the first Dutch explorers and brewers, through the rise of the great industrial ale industry, past the dark years of Legs Diamond and Prohibition, to the renaissance of microbrewery movement in 1980s and the rise of a new crop of craft brewers in the twenty-first century.  The book, published in August 2014 contains nearly 100 images, 35 in color, and many from the Albany Institute’s collections. Remarkable Liquids, the area’s only craft-focused beer distributor, will also be on hand to provide samples of some of the best beer made in our region. $30 per person or $50 per couple (includes one copy of the book and samples of beer). For more information and to purchase tickets, call Andrew Alliger at 463-4478, ext. 412.

SPECIAL EVENT—Cocktails and Conversation

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 | 5:30–7:30PM

All 2014 Museum Gala corporate sponsors and their guests are invited to a private, behind-the-scenes collections tour with Executive Director Tammis Groft. This event is hosted by the Gala Committee and the Business Relations Committee. We hope to see you there. Thank you for your support! For more information, or to RSVP, call Nicole Peterson at 463-4478, ext. 414.

LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING—New Netherland Connections: Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth Century America

Susanah Shaw Romney, Assistant Professor of History, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 | 5:30 PM

Don’t miss this fascinating talk about the real women and men, soldiers, sailors, settlers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans who drew on kin and social relationships to build new lives in the Dutch colony of New Netherland.  Sharing vivid stories from her recently published, award-winning book, Professor Romney will introduce us to some of the little known people who built these intimate networks as they struggled to survive, resist, or profit from the new connections linking the New World to the Old. Free admission

LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING—Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City

Russell Shorto

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 | 2 PM

Join award winning author Russell Shorto for an engaging exploration of the history of Holland’s capital city, including the little known artists, crusaders, explorers, eccentrics, and visionaries who helped Amsterdam grow into a world class city with far reaching global impact including, of course, the founding of colony of New Netherland and the spread of cherished ideals of freedom, equality and commerce in the new world. Free with museum admission

SPECIAL EVENT—Opening Reception & Award Ceremony

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 | 5–8 PM

Mingle with artists and enjoy refreshments at the opening reception and award ceremony of the 2014 Exhibition of Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region. RSVP to Andrew Alliger at 463-4478, ext. 412.

OCTOBER

SPECIAL EVENT– Community Conversation: Planning the Future of Your Museum

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 | 5:30PM-6:30PM

Please join Albany Institute of History & Art Executive Director Tammis Groft for an informal discussion about the future of the museum. Share your ideas for future exhibitions, lectures, family programs, art-making activities, special events, and museum amenities. Free admission

SPECIAL EVENT—1^st Friday

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 | 5–8 PM

The Albany Institute will be open for extended hours. Free admission

LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING– The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy

Jacopo della Quercia

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 | 2PM

Join Albany historian and writer Giacomo Calabria (pen name, Jacopo della Quercia) for a lively talk about his recently published historical novel that is part sci-fi, part action adventure, and part comedy embedded in a narrative based on meticulous research. The result is an outlandish secret history that aligns perfectly with national as well as the city of Albany historical record. Calabria is an educator and history writer whose work has been featured on the comedy website Cracked.com, BBC America, CNN Money, and the Huffington Post. Free with museum admission

FAMILY PROGRAM—Be Inspired! Family Day

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 | NOON–4:30PM

Come be inspired by the artwork of the Mohawk-Hudson Regional exhibition and create your own masterpieces.  Artists from the show will be on hand for multiple presentations throughout the day. We’ll discover the mediums, and techniques they use in their work and create some artwork of our own. Free with museum admission

HOLIDAY MONDAY—Columbus Day

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 | 10AM–5PM

This Columbus Day explore the galleries of the Albany Institute of History & Art for free! The whole family will enjoy drop-in art making activities based on the current exhibitions. Sponsored by M&T Bank. Free admission

                Drop-in Art Marking: 10AM–4:30PM

                Gallery Talks: 1PM and 3:30PM

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT—Undercover: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets, and Bed Hangings

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 | 3:30PM Exhibition Tour; 4:30PM Math and Design in the Studio

Join W. Douglas McCombs, PhD, Chief Curator, and Erika Sanger, Director of Education, for a tour of the exhibition and a hands-on art making activity in the studio that will explore art and Common Core math curriculum integrations. Admission Free, Registration required. To register, call or email Barbara Collins at 518-463-4478, ext. 405 or collinsb@albanyinstitute.org.

GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM–Junior Jewelry

Saturday, October 18 | 1PM–4:00PM                                                                  

Take a look at the world of ancient Egypt with us and use the artifacts and symbols as inspiration for your own jewelry.  Junior level Girl Scouts will tour the Albany Institute’s ancient Egypt exhibit, and create their own jewelry using both everyday objects, and metal.  They’ll learn the tools of the trade as they create their own sparkling pieces! Registration is required and is available at http://gsneny.org/events/ or by calling the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York at 518-348-1413.

SPECIAL EVENT– 40^th Annual Antiquarian Book & Ephemera Fair

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 | 10AM-4PM

Located at the Washington Avenue Armory. More than fifty dealers of books, photographs, manuscripts, and ephemera. Includes silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Albany Institute Library. For more information, visit www.albanybookfair.com. $6 per person

LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING—To Elevate & Adorn the Mind: Betsey Colt Foot and the Story Behind the Founding of Albany Academy for Girls

Louise Copeland Marks

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 | 2 PM
Set in Albany in the early nineteenth century, To Elevate & Adorn the Mind, is a thoroughly researched historical novel about Betsey Colt Foot and her radical quest to establish the Albany Academy for Girls, one of the country’s oldest independent schools for the education of young women.  Louise Copeland Marks, is an academy alumni and Associate Professor Emerita of Sociology, Psychology, and Mental Health at SUNY’s North Country Community College.  Free with museum admission

LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING—Albany History in an Alternate Universe

Frankie Y. Bailey

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 6 PM

Booth, Lincoln, Houdini, and more . . . join SUNY Albany criminal justice professor and award winning mystery writer Frankie Bailey as she reveals how she draws on Albany's vibrant history in crafting her police procedural series set in a near-future version of the city.  Bailey is a Macavity Award winning mystery writer who has been nominated for numerous Edgar, Anthony, and Agatha awards.  She is also the author of Wicked Albany and numerous non-fiction books that explore the intersections of crime, history, and popular culture.  Free admission

NOVEMBER

MAKING IT AMERICAN LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING—America’s Eden: Thomas Cole and the Voyage of Life

Paul Schweizer, Director Emeritus, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute’s Museum of Art

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 |2 PM

Schweizer will discuss how Cole took the old master idiom of the history painting and put it into the form of American landscape painting to create his most iconic series, Voyage of Life. He will also be available to sign copies of his new book Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life which we will have available for purchase. Free with museum admission

SPECIAL EVENT—Member Monday

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 | NOON–1PM

Members are invited to join Chief Curator, Doug McCombs for a “Behind-the-Scenes” tour of our newest exhibition, “Undercover: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets, and Bed Hangings”. We’ll look at the textiles in the show and then go behind-the-scenes to see more! Space is limited. For more information, and to RSVP, call Andrew Alliger at 463-4478, ext. 412.

SPECIAL EVENT—1^st Friday: Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region Gallery Talks

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 | 6 PM

Artists whose work was selected for the 78^th annual Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region will discuss their work in these informal and engaging gallery talks. Our website will be updated with the list of participating artists as we approach the date. Free admission

GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM–Crazy Quilts!

Saturday, November 8 | 1PM–3:00PM                                                                 

Daisy and Brownie scouts are invited to join us as we get “under cover” to explore the beautiful world of quilts!  We’ll discover dazzling patterns in the museum’s exhibition and use to create quilt patterns using paper piecing and printmaking techniques. Registration is required and is available at http://gsneny.org/events/or by calling the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York at 518-348-1413.

SPECIAL CURATOR GALLERY TALK– Undercover: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets, and Bed Hangings

Saturday, November 8 | 1PM

W. Douglas McCombs, PhD, Chief Curator and curator of the exhibition will discuss textiles in the exhibition and the meaning behind their patterns and designs. Free with museum admission

FAMILY PROGRAM– Mummy Birthday

Sunday, November 9 | Noon–4:30PM                                                                 

Celebrate the 105^th anniversary of the arrival of the Albany Institute’s mummies.  Children are invited to bring a doll or stuffed animal to learn about the mummification process by mummifying their toy. Free with museum admission

HOLIDAY TUESDAY– Veteran’s Day

Tuesday, November 11 | 10–5PM

Bring the whole family to enjoy the galleries of the Albany Institute of History & Art for free!

Sponsored by M&T Bank

In addition to our galleries and shop being open, we also have:

10AM-4:30PM  Drop-in Art Making: Patriotic Pennants in the Art Studio

Special activities related to the War of 1812, with Robert E. Mulligan, Retired New York State Museum Curator of Military History:

10AM-4:30PM  Special Display
In honor of Veteran's Day and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, Mulligan will display his collection of miniature soldiers of 1812, recreating the Battle of Queenston Heights, and highlighting the roles played by Albany's Solomon Van Rensselaer of Cherry Hill and Troy's Captain John E. Wool, the hero of the battle.

1:30PM and 3PM  Lecture: New York State and the War of 1812 with Robert E. Mulligan  
Mulligan will discuss America's lack of preparation for the war, the role of the New York Militia, Albanians Philip and Stephen van Rensselaer, strategies, New York's anti-war politics, and who actually "won" the war. (It was our neighbor to the north).

FILM SCREENING AND COMMENTARY– The Catskill Mountain House and the World Around

Tobe Carey

Thursday, November 13 | 6PM

Spend the evening with award- winning filmmaker Tobe Carey as he takes us back to America’s first wilderness in the time of steamboats and railroads, and entertains us with the compelling history of the rise and fall of the Catskill Mountain House, the 19^th century Catskill Mountain hotel that was a celebrated part of the American “Grand Tour”.   Bring your questions and your memories to share after the screening. Free admission

SPECIAL EVENT– Work of Art

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 | 5:30PM-8PM

Join us for the third annual Work of Art held in the 2014 Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region. Mingle among art and artists as you sip cocktails and delight in the savory fare of Mazzone Hospitality. This event is hosted by the Special Events Committee and sponsored by Nigro Companies. Tickets start at $75. For more information and to purchase tickets, call Andrew Alliger at (518) 463-4478, ext. 412.

LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING– Women and Power in the Ancient World

Kara Cooney, Associate Professor, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA

Sunday, November 16 | 2PM

In conjunction with the publication of her new book The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt, Cooney will draw from the latest field research to fill the gaps in what we know about Hatshepsut – the longest reigning female pharaoh - and the obstacles that faced women who sought power and prestige in a society that equated authority with masculinity. Cooney will be available to sign copies of the book that will be available for purchase. Free with museum admission

MAKING IT AMERICAN LECTURE—A Promising Venture: Shaker Objects in the Index of American Design

Lesley Herzberg, Curator of Collections, Hancock Shaker

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 |2 PM

Produced between 1935 and 1942, the Index is a visual archive of American decorative arts that reflects the expanding interest in our nation’s material culture. Herzberg will illuminate the unique design characteristics of the Index’s Shaker Portfolio and how accompanying photographs created a record of their context. This lecture is co-sponsored by Partners for Albany Stories (PASt). Free with museum admission

SPECIAL EVENT– Free Thanksgiving Weekend

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 | 10AM-5PM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 | 10AM-5PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 | Noon-5PM

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests!

• Enjoy a variety of trees showcasing one-of-a-kind, artist-made ornaments, and trees decorated by contributions from the community
• Browse our special sale of handmade ornaments in our Museum Shop
• Make your own ornaments in our Drop-in Art Making Sessions (Friday and Saturday 10AM-4:30PM, Sunday Noon-4:30PM)
• Take in a Lecture & Book Signing by author Peter G. Rose for her new book Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats (Sunday at 2PM)
• Sample Dutch cookies and treats available at the Museum Shop
• Shop for fun, old-fashioned toys, and handmade ornaments and gifts by area artisans
• Admire community-made quilt blocks from our Quilt Wall Hanging Challenge, created to celebrate our current exhibition, Undercover: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets, and Bed Hangings
• Gallery Talks all three days at 1PM and 3:30PM
• Demonstrations by the New York Capital District Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (Friday and Saturday, TBD)

LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING– Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats

Peter Rose

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 | 2PM 

As part of the museum’s Thanksgiving weekend celebration, Home for the Holidays, renowned food historian Peter Rose will share stories and recipes from her newest book, Delicious December. Join her for a delightful exploration of the Dutch roots of many of our favorite holiday traditions as she tempts us with more than a hundred treasured recipes adapted for contemporary entertaining. Treats will be available to sample and purchase. Free admission

DECEMBER

SPECIAL EVENT—1^st Friday: Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region Gallery Talks

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 | 5–8 PM

Artists whose work was selected for the 78^th annual Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region will discuss their work in these informal and engaging gallery talks. Our website will be updated with the list of participating artists as we approach the date. Free admission

GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM–Playful Puppetry

Saturday, December 6 | 1PM–3:00PM                                                                  

Brownie scouts are invited to join us and get creative! Puppets are a great tool to express yourself and tell a tale.  We’ll experiment with different art techniques and materials as we make our own characters come to life.  Registration is required and is available at http://gsneny.org/events/ or by calling the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York at 518-348-1413.

MAKING IT AMERICAN LECTURE– Under the Same Roofs: Slavery at the Ten Broeck Mansion in the late Eighteenth Century

Matthew J. Kirk, Principal Investigator/Cultural Resource Specialist, Hartgen Archeological Associates

Sunday, December 7 |  2PM

Recent excavations and research revealed outbuildings on Ten Broeck land likely used as summer kitchens and/or slave quarters, like those at Schuyler Mansion, Johnson Hall, and other prominent residences, particularly in the south. With a unique mix of archaeology and history these findings provide insight into the slave/master relationships shortly before abolition. They suggest we reconsider our modern concepts of slavery in the north at the end of the eighteenth century. This lecture is co-sponsored by Partners for Albany Stories (PASt). Free with museum admission

CHRISTMAS DAY– Museum Closed

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

FAMILY PROGRAM—Art for All

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 | 10 AM–4:30PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 | 10 AM–4:30PM

Bring your family to the museum and spend the day being creative. Activities include paper pieced quilts, yarn lacing designs, printmaking, collage, and more! Watch for guest Art for All appearances by artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Regional exhibition. Specific dates of appearances will be updated onto the website, and e-newsletters. Free with museum admission

FAMILY PROGRAM—Art for All

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 | 10 AM–4:30PM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 | 10 AM–4:30PM

Bring your family to the museum and spend the day being creative. Activities include paper pieced quilts, yarn lacing designs, printmaking, collage, and more! Watch for guest Art for All appearances by artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Regional exhibition. Specific dates of appearances will be updated onto the website, and e-newsletters. Free with museum admission

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Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art is New York’s oldest museum. Its collections document the Hudson Valley as a crossroads of culture, influencing the art and history of the region, the state, and the nation. With more than 35,000 objects and one million documents in the library, it is an important resource for the region, giving our community a sense of the part the Hudson Valley played in the American story, and our own place in history. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are open year-round and create a sense of place, allowing visitors to meet the people who helped shape this region. Over 25,000 people visit the Albany Institute of History & Art every year, enjoying the collections, workshops, school programs, and lectures, helping to build an understanding of the history and culture of our region. Among the museum’s best-known and most-loved collections are the 19^th century Hudson River School landscape paintings by artists like Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, the 19^th century sculpture collections, and, of course, the famous Albany Mummies that came to the museum in 1909 and have been on view ever since. For more information, please visit www.albanyinstitute.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/albanyinstitute) and Twitter (@AlbanyInstitute).