Albany, New York 

12210 

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albanyinstitute.org

INDIAN LADDER, A LYRIC JOURNEY: Photographs by John Yang

September 22 - December 30, 2007

Yang, born in China worked as an architect before turning his attentions to photography in 1977. His landscape and panoramic photographs are informed by the work of Alfred Stieglitz and Paul Strand and reflect Yang's great interest in the landscape and the environment. Four of the last five years Yang has photographed the Helderberg Escarpment, a prominent ridge overlooking the Hudson-Mohawk Valley. Of particular interest to him has been a road known as the "Indian Ladder Trail," which once traversed the ridge and served as a connection between the lowlands and the highlands. According to Yang "Although the trail has much geological as well as historical interest, my primary concern has been pictorial." During the late 19th and early 20th century geologist, paleontologists and tourists have flocked to the region by horse and carriage, by rail and automobile to study the unusual rock formations, diverse fossil specimens and the extraordinary views from the Helderberg Mountains.  The exhibition will include over 40 gold-tone contact prints taken with an 11" x 14" view cameras. The camera along with a description of the process, tools and materials will be featured in this gallery along with an introduction to the artist.

John Yang Bio

Indian Ladder, A Lyric Journey Overview

For image requests, please email Paul Purdy, Communication & Marketing Associate at purdyp@albanyinstitute.org

Photographs © by John Yang

THE HELDERBERG ESCARPMENT: Landscape Photographs by John Yang

September 22 - December 30, 2007

Using guidebooks, postcards, photographs, prints, broadsides and paintings this exhibition will highlight the colorful history of the area known as the Indian Ladder Trail in terms of the area's tourism, attraction to scientists from all over the world, and the more recent establishment of the John Boyd Thacher State Park.

Support provided in part by Mr. and Mrs. C. Wayne Williams, The Alan Goldberg Charitable Trust, Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc., Spectra Environmental Group, Inc., David and Lois Swawite and the Omni Development Company, Inc., Eric D. Foster, Prentiss and Frieda Carnell and Margaret M. Craven. Tech Valley Printing provided in-kind support for the printing and production of the catalogue.