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Exhibitions

Current Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibitions
Permanent Collections in the Galleries
Past Exhibitions

Current Exhibitions

First in the Hearts of His Countrymen :

George Washington

August 27, 2011- May 20, 2012

First in the Hearts of His Countrymen explores the impact of America's iconic first president, whose likeness both during life and since his death has adorned and inspired thousands of artists, sculptors, and craftspeople. The exhibit showcases an eclectic array of items from the Albany Institute's collection, including teapots, plates, busts, documents, personal correspondence, lithographs, paintings, and even a walking stick cut from a tree near his Mount Vernon grave site, all paying tribute to this purely American hero. Learn more.
Now booking school groups. For more information, please call Barbara Collins, Education Coordinator, at (518) 463-4478, ext. 405 or by e-mail collinsb@albanyinstitute.org.

Kid Stuff:
Great Toys from Our Childhood

October 1, 2011 - March 4, 2012

Play, Learn, and reminisce with this awesome exhibition of vintage toys and games from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Organized by the Berkshire Museum and seen by more than 1 million people across North America, Kid Stuff features classic toys from the Baby Boomer era that are still played with by kids today. Featured toys include Barbie, Mr. Potatohead, Wiffle Balls, Tinker Toys, Etch-a-Sketch, Slinky, Hot Wheels, and much more.
More information

Medical Matters
Albany and the Civil War: Medicine on the home and Battle Fronts

September 3, 2011- February 26, 2012

On the Civil War home front and on the battlefields, Albany residents played key roles in providing medical care for the sick and wounded. In 1864 the citizens of Albany organized the Albany Relief Bazaar and collected $117,189 for medical supplies to send to Union troops. Two Albany brothers, Dr. Albert Vander Veer, a nationally known surgeon who was dean of Albany Medical College from 1895-1904, and Garrett Vander Veer, who was killed in action, wrote first-hand accounts of their experiences on Civil War battlefields. The exhibition includes photographs and manuscripts related to the Albany Relief Bazaar, journals and letters written by the Vander Veers and materials related to President Abraham Lincoln's two trips to Albany and a painting memorializing his death completed in 1872 by Howard Hill. This exhibition is supported by Albany Medical Center. Learn more.

Temple of Fancy: Pease's Great Variety Store

November 19, 2011- March 25, 2012

Before F. W. Woolworths', or Whitney's, or even Macy's department store in Albany, there was Pease Great Variety Store located in the Temple of Fancy at 518 Broadway. From the 1840s to the 1860s Pease's store was something of an upscale "Five and Dime," where Albany families could purchase fancy goods, toys, household items, children's books, and games. The building still stands at the corner of Broadway and Pine Street. Richard H. Pease, and later Harry E. Pease, were proprietors of the store and also noted printers. They printed the first Christmas card in America in 1851 (only one of which exists at the Manchester Metropolitan Museum in England) and they also produced the hand-colored lithographs of fruit for Ebenezer Emmons' Agriculture of New York published between 1846 and 1854. The exhibit will draw from the collections of the Albany Institute and include photographs, prints, children's books, card games, and puzzles.

Special commemorative booklet on sale at the museum shop.
This 20-page publication commemorates the Temple of Fancy exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art from November 19, 2011 - March 25, 2012, and reproduces for the first time in this country, a facsimile of Pease's famous Christmas card. This is the story of Richard H. Pease and other family members, since coming to Albany in c. 1834, and illustrating his business endeavors with maps, advertisements, and examples of his children's books, and prints. The publication is available in limited supply for $9.95 at the Museum Shop.

A Gather of Glass:
Selections from the Museum's Collection

July 30, 2011 - June 2012

Since its invention, glass has been a critical medium for almost every field and purpose, ranging from elaborate fine art work to practical household items and everything in between. A Gather of Glass showcases decorative and functional glassware found in American households over three centuries, emphasizing the variety of process by which objects were formed and decorated. 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 showcase of colored glass is also featured, which analyzes the American predilection for both clear, "crystal" pieces, and vibrant, experimental glass of many hues. Highlights of the exhibition include examples from the Institute's Corning service of cut glass tableware, Albany Glass Works flasks, and lacy glass saltcellars.