Albany Institute of History & Art

06/06/2019

Anne Diggory's visions of nature in Albany Institute exhibit

A great interview from the Times Union with Anne Diggory, the artist behind the exhibit Anne Diggory: All in a Day's Work! http://ow.ly/jbDB50uxumu

Anne Diggory, who has been creating art in upstate New York for over four decades, is having a conversation through the centuries. Her show, "Anne Diggory: All in a Day's Work" currently running through Aug. 18 at the Albany Institute of History and Art, is a love letter to the natural wonders that....

06/06/2019

The Dutch infatuation with Chinese porcelain in the seventeenth century began when the Dutch, at war with the Portuguese, captured the San Fago in 1602. The ship was laden with Chinese porcelain that was auctioned off at Middelburg, Zeeland. The popularity and large profits from Chinese porcelain prompted Dutch manufacturers to create their own tin-glazed earthenware in the Chinese style. Early styles were often influenced by Chinese designs until the 1700s when European baroque designs became more popular.
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[Dish (schotel), the Netherlands, third quarter, eighteenth century, Dutch faience, polychrome; diameter 13 3/4, gift of the estate of Catherine Gansevoort (Mrs. Abraham) Lansing, 1919.3.10]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #Dutch #seventeenthcentury #eighteenthcentury #earthenware

06/05/2019

This week is the last week to catch Larry Kagan’s mesmerizing shapes and shadows. Stop by the Albany Institute before June 9 and explore Larry Kagan’s work before they leave the museum!

06/03/2019

The 3rd Annual Henry Johnson Day is coming up! On Wednesday, June 5th, Albany, New York is honoring and remembering the brave acts of Henry Johnson during WWI that earned him the highest military honor from France, former President Theodore Roosevelt's praises, and the Medal of Honor from former President Barack Obama.
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Join Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan in remembering Henry Johnson and his brave acts at Livingston Park at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5th. Tabetha Wilson, an Albany School Board Member and activist, will be honored as the winner of the Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service.

06/01/2019

Don't miss out on your last chance to see Bejeweled and Bedazzled, and Larry Kagan's Shape and Shadow at the museum before they close on June 9!

05/31/2019

TravelHost

TravelHost

05/30/2019

Check out employment opportunities at the museum and join a team dedicated to connecting diverse audiences to the art, history, and culture of the Upper Hudson Valley. Learn more: http://ow.ly/FqEa50us7hb

05/28/2019

June is right around the corner and that means summer will be here sooner than you thought! These colorful houses from 1998 are giving us major summer evening vibes right now. #whoisreadyforsummer
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[Warm-tone Houses, Clinton Avenue, 1998, David S. Brickman, 1998, chromogenic color print, gift of Matthew Bender IV, LIB 1999.50/PC21.5.1, DI 1117]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #photograph #90salbany #albanyneighborhood

05/27/2019

Here's to remembering all the brave souls who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
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[James C. Dunn (Parker Dunn's Father an Albany Policeman), received Dunn's Medal of Honor from Major General Robert L. Bullard at Memorial Park, Albany, Armistice Day 1923, unidentified photographer, n.d., gelatin silver print, 11 h x 81/2 w, Albany Institute of History & Art Library, MG45/08, DI 275]
#MemorialDay #albanyny #fromthecollection #photograph

05/25/2019

While not a rare gemstone, the deep reds of garnets have made them popular jewels for centuries, and their abundance has allowed for exuberant displays, as with this garnet-covered butterfly. See how the gems sparkle on this little critter at our Bejeweled and Bedazzled exhibition before it closes in June!
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[Garnet Butterfly Pin, unidentified maker, c. 1870–1880, garnets, plated silver, Albany Institute of History & Art, bequest of Miss Evelyn Newman, 1964.31.83]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #onview #jewelry #garnet #nineteenthcentury

05/22/2019

Women began taking up the hobby of gardening and the study of botany in earnest in the nineteenth century. Martha’s Hough’s herbarium (shown at left) illustrates the meticulous attention paid to understanding the beauty and complexity of plants, which is mirrored in the intricately embroidered flowers and plants in this quilt. Wild flowers and garden flowers combine in striking detail, each one contained in its own square like a well-preserved plant specimen affixed to the black velvet background.
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[Floral Embroidered Crazy Quilt, unidentified makers for Sarah Green Nodine, c. 1890, silk, velvet, wool, chenille, paint, gift of Mrs. Frederick Nodine, 1951.27.2]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #quilting #textile #textileart #flowers #nature

05/22/2019

Discover Albany

Check us out in Discover Albany's Spring video!

Discover Spring. 🌷 #DiscoverAlbany

Explore Albany Institute of History & Art, Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza, Dutch Apple Cruises, Albany Distilling Company and Albany Empire.

05/21/2019

A native of Kansas, Kenneth Green trained as a teacher before completing his Master's in Fine Art from the State University of Iowa in 1957. "Moon, Wind and Sun" displays Green's desire to capture the "preciousness of nature and media." The beautifully glazed stoneware disk evokes the forces of nature through solids and voids, circles, and arcs. It is both serene and powerful at the same moment.
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[Moon, Wind, and Sun, Kenneth Green, 1966, glazed earthenware, Albany Institute of History & Art, 1966 Exhibition by Artists of Upper Hudson Region Purchase Prize, 1966.105]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #sculpture #nature #onview #modernart #modernartist

05/20/2019

Reminder: The Egyptian galleries will be closed from May 22—25 for updates. Our other exhibitions are open and available for you to enjoy!

05/17/2019

Here’s how to explore the galleries in 10 seconds 😂😂 #ExploreMW #museumweek

05/16/2019

View the museum in #RainbowMW! Day 4 of #MuseumWeek is rainbow-themed. There's no literal rainbow in museum but there's plenty of colors in the museum for a rainbow-themed day.

05/15/2019

Today's theme for #MuseumWeek is #PlayMW! The museum's Junior Interpreters and Art Cart have fascinating objects from the museum's touch collection and different fun activities for visitors to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the Junior Interpreters and the Art Cart (sponsored by Stewart's Shops!) this Saturday and join in on their playful activities.

05/15/2019

Albany City Schools

Albany City Schools

05/15/2019

Justin Plus Lauren

I am so excited to tell you all about my trip to Albany, New York. I really didn't know much about Albany before visiting, but it's a really delightful and inspiring place to check out.

📍 I was totally charmed by the architecture and houses of Lark Street and Center Square.

📍 Washington Park was such a lovely place to go for a stroll (or a bike ride!).

📍 The John Boyd Thacher State Park is only a short drive away with incredible scenery and fabulous hiking trails.

📍 There are so many attractions worth checking out, like the New York State Capitol Building, Empire State Plaza, and the Albany Institute of History and Art.

📍 Albany has so much awesome vegan food and a great coffee culture scene.

Read all about my recommended 2 day travel itinerary for the perfect weekend in Albany here >> https://bit.ly/30jScNR

Thanks so much for Discover Albany for hosting my stay and introducing me to your wonderful city!

Also featured: Stacks Espresso Bar, Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza, Albany Institute of History & Art, Raw, CDPHP, The Half Moon Market, Berben and Wolff's Vegan Delicatessen, Capital Repertory Theatre, Washington Park Inn, Iron Gate Cafe, NY State Parks & Historic Sites, 3Fish Coffee, Lark Street Yoga, Lark Street Business Improvement District, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen

05/14/2019

The Ancient Egyptian galleries will be temporarily closed from May 22—25 for updates. In the meantime, enjoy our other exhibits such as Bejeweled and Bedazzled: Jewelry and Personal Adornment, or Heavy Metal: Cast Iron Stoves of the Capital Region!

05/14/2019

Today is #secretsmw for #museumweek! Might be a little messy but take a look at the invite prepping process for our gala 😉 #wip

05/13/2019

Here's to kicking of #MuseumWeek 2019 with #WomeninCulture! This ribbon belonged to artist and suffrage activist Alice Morgan Wright, who actively participated in the women's suffrage movement in London and United States. Wright continued her political activism throughout her life and helped established the League of Women Voters in her home state of New York, as well as the Humane Society of the United States.
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[Votes for Women Ribbon, U.S., c. 1917, gift of Elinor Wright (Mrs. Clark) Fleming, cousin of the artist Alice Morgan Wright, 2004.1.164]
#fromthecollection #albanyny #womensuffrage #voting #womenvotes #votesforwomen #activist

05/12/2019

We’re a big fan of this folding fan made out of mother-of-pearl. But we’re bigger fans of cool moms who continue to give their children and families strength. Happy Mother’s Day everyone! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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[Folding Fan, 1905-1915, mother-of-Pearl, silk leaf with metal sequins, gift of Martha Blackman, 1998.8.4a]
#happymothersday #mothersdayweekend #celebratemom #fan #motherofpearl #foldingfan #twentiethcentury

05/11/2019

Ready for the next Tulip Queen! The Tulip Festival and Tulip Court has been an icon of Albany since 1949. That's over 70 years of tulips and queens. This image shows Lois Tewell, the 1954 Tulip Queen planting a tulip bulb on October 18, 1954 at Washington Park.
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[Albany’s 1954 Tulip Queen, Lois Tewell, unidentified photographer, 1954, gelatin silver print, 8 1/2 h x 6 1/2 w, Albany Institute of History & Art Library, 1993.010.5459P, DI 542]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #tulipfestival #tulipqueen #mothersdayweekend #tulip #dutch #albanyfestival

05/10/2019

Here's a happy birthday to James M. Hart! Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Hart came to the United States in 1831 and spent his childhood in Albany. This painting is from the earlier part of his career when the Adirondacks was not a popular tourist destination. To the general population, the Adirondacks was linked to wild nature and inaccessible to the average American until railroads and pleasure boats extended their operations northward.
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[The Adirondacks, James M. Hart, 1861, oil on canvas, 42 h x 69 w, gift by Exchange, Governor and Mrs. W. Averell Harriman, 1987.32]
#fromthecollection #albanyny #painting #albanypainter #nineteenthcentury #landscape #landscapepainting #theadirondacks

05/07/2019

See if you can find this spot on your next hike at the Indian Ladder Trail. This image from the late nineteenth century shows hikers enjoying nature at the Indian Ladder Trail. How has the activity of hiking change over time?
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[Indian Ladder, W.H. Stillman and Joseph McKay, Troy, NY, 1880-1890, albumen photographic print on card, 8 3/8 h x 6 1/16 w (photograph); 9 3/4 h x 6 3/4 w (card), Albany Institute of History & Art Library, ser 27/103, DI 32]

#albanyny #fromthecollection #image #IndianLadder #hiking #nature #springactivity #naturalworld

05/05/2019

Chinese porcelain became known to the Dutch in the early 1700s, and they took an immediate liking to the style. Because actual Chinese ceramics were expensive, Dutch manufactured their own tin-glazed earthenware in the Chinese style. This plaque is the finest example of Dutch faience in the museum's collection from the late eighteenth century. It combines a Chinese basket motif with an arrangement of native flowers.
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[Floral Bouquet Plaque (Plaat), the Netherlands, 1775-1800, earthenware, tin glazed with polychrome enamel decoration (faience), 10 1/2 hx 10 1/2 w, Gift in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn by their daughters, Harriet Langdon Pruyn (Mrs. William Gorham) Rice and Huybertje Lansing Pruyn (Mrs. Charles S.) Hamlin, 1911.1.3]
#fromthecollection #albanyny #floral #chineseporcelain #dutch #eighteenthcentury #gift #chinesemotif

05/04/2019

Thank you Mayor Sheehan for attending the opening of the City School District of Albany's Elementary Art Show Friday night! If you want to see the vibrant work of Albany's talented students as well the show is up until end of day on Sunday.

05/03/2019

Comment your favorite spot at the museum! One of ours is the Sculpture Court filled with works by Albany sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer and his three studio assistants and protégés, Launt Thompson, Charles Calverley, and Richard Park.
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#albanyny #onview #sculptures #court #atthemuseum #favoritespots #art #nineteenthcentury #albanyartist

05/03/2019

Thank you to Opera Saratoga for letting us host this awesome performance, and a thank you to everyone who attended!

Getting ready for our first Saratoga Sings of Art and Inspiration concert this evening at the Albany Institute of History & Art!

05/02/2019

Beginning in the 1980s, Richard Callner concentrated on landscapes and interiors with colorfully decorated surfaces and distorted perspectives. The effect saturates our senses and draws us into a world of the spirit and imagination. He acknowledges being influenced by the landscapes of Van Gogh, especially in what he calls their "penetrating perspective." However similar in style, Callner's works are closer in spirit to the joyous canvases of Henri Matisse than the angst-ridden ones of Van Gogh.
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[Red Fields, East of Madrid, Richard Callner,1988, watercolor and gouache on paper, Albany Institute of History & Art Purchase, 1988.23.1]
#albanyny #fromthecollection #colors #artisticinfluence #vangogh #matisse #perspective #colorsaturation #distortion #artisticstyle

05/01/2019

Shape and Shadow: The Sculpture of Larry Kagan at Albany Institute of History & Art

David Brickman of Get Visual reviews our exhibit, Shape and Shadow: The Sculpture of Larry Kagan. Click the link to find out what he thinks!

Larry Kagan - Hershey Art , 2011 - light and steel wire all photos by Gary Gold There's a particularly close relationship between scu...

05/01/2019

Happy May 1st! Still waiting for the warmth and greens of spring so we'll make do and pretend the weather is like the one in this painting by Mary Gridley.
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[A View of the Hudson 16 Miles Below Albany, Mary Gridley, 1850, watercolor and pencil on paper, 15 h x 12 1/2 w, Albany Institute of History & Art purchase, 1958.9]

#albanyny #fromthecollection #watercolorpainting #painting #womanartist #nineteenthcentury #hudsonriver

04/29/2019

Four Smith brothers started a successful business producing and marketing prints showing city views in Albany. Benjamin Franklin Smith designed and created this scene featuring the Albany Exchange Bank and the Museum at Broadway and State Street. The museum housed "curiosities"� on its upper stories, and theatrical performances were held on the main level. It was considered the city's leading amusement center. The bank building was surrounded by stores selling everything from hats and muffs to fruit and dry goods. This print provides a glimpse into everyday life in the heart of mid-nineteenth-century Albany; it's like a city directory come to life.
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[Albany Exchange and Museum, Benjamin F. Smith, Jr., Pease, Albany, NY, 1846, lithograph on paper, 18 1/4 h x 30 5/16 w, bequest of Ledyard Cogswell, Jr.,1954.59.199]

#albanyny #fromthecollection #lithograph #lithography #throwback #albanyexchange #albanyexchange