Congressman Maurice Hinchey '68, '70g at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art on Aug. 13 for a reception recognizing his contributions to the college's "Hudson River to Niagara Falls" show.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey ’68, ’70g (D-NY) was the guest of honor at an Aug. 13 reception at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

Hinchey was recognized for his contributions to the museum’s “Hudson River to Niagara Falls: 19th-century American Landscape Paintings from the New-York Historical Society” exhibition, which is on display through Dec. 13.

The congressman and New Paltz alumnus secured $143,449 in federal funding to support the exhibition, which is the college’s contribution to the Hudson River Quadricentennial taking place through the region this year. The 45 paintings come from the New-York Historical Society’s permanent collection. The funds were also used to conserve four paintings in the show.

In attendance were College President Steven Poskanzer, the Neil C. Trager Director of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art Sara Pasti, and chair of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, Noah Dorsky, as well as other campus and local officials.

Francis Augustus Silva(1835-1886)/New York Harbor, N.Y./1880/Oil on canvas, 12 x 20 in./Collection of the New-York Historical Society

In honor of the Hudson River’s 400th anniversary, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art embarks on two major Art and the River events this summer: the annual Hudson Valley Artists show and an exhibition of landscape paintings.

The Art and the River Project was made possible with a $143,449 federal grant from Congressman Maurice Hinchey ‘68, ‘70g and the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Itty Neuhaus (Art – Foundation) installs a piece connecting art and the environment for the 2009 Hudson Valley Artists show, “Ecotones and Transition Zones,” on display in the Alice and Horace Chandler Gallery and North Galley at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art through September 8.

This year’s Hudson Valley Artists show is focused on environmental and ecological themes. The works of approximately 20 emerging area artists and artist teams will be on display in the Alice and Horace Chandler Gallery and North Gallery through Sept. 6. For the show, titled “Ecotones and Transition Zones,” museum curator Brian Wallace selected artwork, information, presentations, activities and other projects that connect global issues such as sustainability, ecological awareness and bioethics to our immediate surroundings.

There are a variety of events associated with “Ecotones and Transition Zones,” including a Habitat for Artists and ecoartspace benefit concert with Dar Williams and Nick Panasevich on Wednesday, June 24.

Flagship exhibition

Meanwhile, the Art and the River Project’s flagship exhibition, “The Hudson River to Niagara Falls: 19th Century American Landscape Paintings from the New-York Historical Society,” opens on July 11.

Featured in the show, which runs through Dec. 13, are 45 landscape paintings by Hudson River School artists. The paintings were selected from the permanent collection of the New-York Historical Society and the show is curated by Linda Ferber, New-York Historical Society museum director.

Another Arts and the River Project show opening this summer is “Panorama of the Hudson River: Greg Miller.” The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art will also host an Art Along the Hudson – Third Saturday in New Paltz event on July 18.

The Hudson River-themed events continue into the fall. Two more shows – “The Hudson River: A Great American Treasure” by Greg Miller and “Riverbank” by visiting artists Philippine Hoegen and Carolien Stikker – open in September. An educational symposium, “Revisiting the Hudson: Nineteenth Century Landscape Painting in Context,” organized by Kerry Dean Carso (Art History), takes place in November.