Tag: New York Historical Society

Kay WalkingStick at the New York Historical Society

Known for its outstanding collection of paintings from the Hudson River School, an early-to-mid 19th century movement that pictured the sublime in the landscape north of New York City, the New York Historical Society’s current exhibition ‘Kay WalkingStick / Hudson River School’ invites new perspectives on what is considered the first ‘American’ school of art.  Kay WalkingStick, an artist of Cherokee descent, has for decades researched Native American histories in locations around the country, picturing specific landscapes overlaid with designs from local indigenous communities.  Here, a Haudenosaunee pattern from the New York region indicates Native American presence in the landscape despite an absence of pictured people.  The museum pairs WalkingStick’s depiction of Niagara with one foregrounding the power of the Falls by Louisa David Minot, one of the few female Hudson River artists, who referred to the scene as representative of conflict between Britain, the US and Native Americans around the War of 1812.  (On view on the Upper West Side though April 14th).

Kay WalkingStick, Niagara, oil on panel in two parts, 2022.
Louisa David Minot, Niagara Falls, oil on canvas, 1818.

Betye Saar at the New York Historical Society

In response to recent shootings of African Americans, Betye Saar has revived her iconic Aunt Jemima imagery to create new work that continues to undermine racist stereotypes from U.S. culture.  Mounted on a washboard signifying a history of labor performed by African American women, this Aunt Jemima character totes a broom and a gun under the slogan ‘Extreme Times Call for Extreme Heroines.’  (On view in ‘Betye Saar:  Keepin’ it Clean’ at the New York Historical Society through May 27th).

Betye Saar, Extreme Times Call for Extreme Heroines, mixed media and wood figure on vintage washboard, clock, 2017.

Bettina von Zwehl at the New York Historical Society

Inspired by a 2018 lie-in by high school students in Washington D.C. to protest gun violence, and ghostly profile portraits by Benjamin Tappan in the New York Historical Society’s collection, London-based artist Bettina von Zwehl created portraits of 17 New York high school students intended to recall death masks.  The result is a sobering and beautiful memorial to those killed by guns and a powerful plea to stop the violence. (On view at the New York Historical Society on the Upper West Side through April 28th).

Bettina von Zwehl, Meditations in an Emergency, #1-17, series of 17 photographs, gelatin silver prints, handprinted, 2018.

Bill Cunningham’s ‘Facades’ at the New York Historical Society

For eight years in the 60s and 70s, iconic New York photographer Bill Cunningham took pictures his friend, neighbor and celebrity portrait photographer Editta Sherman in period clothes in front of famous New York City landmarks. Here, in one of the earliest images in his ‘Facades’ project, Sherman poses in front of St Paul’s Chapel in late 17th century clothes purchased in a second hand store for just a few dollars. (At the New York Historical Society (show extended).

Bill Cunningham, St Paul’s Chapel and Churchyard, (built ca 1766-1796, Broadway at Vesey Street), from the Façade series, 1968.