Press Releases

ALBANY, NY— On March 4, the contemporary art exhibition Wampum World: An Art Installation by Renée Ridgway opens at the Albany Institute of History & Art. This multimedia exhibition is an artist’s interpretation of the meaning of wampum from culture to culture and time period to time period. It combines video installations and the artist’s watercolors and collage works with objects that the artist has selected from the museum’s collection of Dutch colonial materials. The exhibition will run from March 4—June 18, 2017. Please note that no physical wampum is displayed in this exhibition.

ALBANY, NY— Students from the School of Rock will be at the Albany Institute of History & Art for a special concert on Sunday, February 12, 2017, the last day of the exhibition Rock & Roll Icons: Photographs by Patrick Harbron. They will honor the photography of Patrick Harbron with a performance that highlights some of the many musical acts he has photographed over his illustrious career. The concert will be at 2pm and is free and open to the public. Standard admission rates will be in effect to visit the galleries.

ALBANY, NY— The Albany Institute of History & Art invites families to a special workshop “Introduction to the World of Percussion and Rhythm” at the museum on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 1pm. Percussionist Brian Melick will lead participants in an exciting exploration of over 40 different types of drums. Visitors will learn about the history of percussion instruments and how they vary around the world.

ALBANY, NEW YORK— The Albany Institute of History & Art will be decorated and ready to welcome locals and out-of-area guests to the museum for “Home for the Holidays” this Thanksgiving weekend. The museum, which in the past has hosted holiday-themed events such as the beloved Festival of Trees, rekindled that holiday spirit in 2014 with a three-day extravaganza of holiday programs, specialty vendors, and of course, trees. This year, the free admission weekend is once again packed with festive activities that will appeal to the entire family.

ALBANY, NEW YORK— In 1966, Daniel E. Button (November 1, 1917-March 7, 2009) did the political impossible and beat the Democratic Machine in a bid for Albany’s Congressional seat. Now, fifty years later, the historic victory is the focus of a special night of activities at the Albany Institute of History & Art. In conjunction with the Times Union, on Wednesday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30pm, the Albany Institute will have a small reception, display a pop-up exhibition called “Dan Button: Victory!”, and host guests who will reflect on this anniversary, including author William Kennedy. This event is free to attend but requires advance registration.

ALBANY, NY—The Albany Institute of History & Art in Albany, New York is pleased to announce The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, on view from October 1 through December 31, 2016.

Most chairs encountered throughout the day define themselves fairly simply—a place at the family table, a comfortable spot with a great view of the river, a seat of corporate power. When looking at the 43 chairs selected for The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, however, there is much more to see than simple pieces of furniture. Developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C, these works of art have compelling stories to tell about our national history, the evolution of American design and incredible artistry and craftsmanship.

ALBANY, NY— One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was a brilliant politician-lawyer who served as an indispensable aide to George Washington during and after the American Revolution. Among his many achievements, Hamilton is credited with creating the financial system of the United States, and was the first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. The current Broadway musical sensation Hamilton has sparked an interest in the man on the $10 bill. The Albany Institute of History & Art’s new exhibition, Spotlight: Alexander Hamilton, highlights Hamilton’s connections to Albany, New York through personal papers, family heirlooms, historic preservation efforts, and a stunning portrait painted by Albany’s own Ezra Ames (1768—1836). This exhibition draws from the Albany Institute’s collection as well as from Union College Permanent Collection; John G. Waite Associates, Architects; and Fort Ticonderoga. The exhibition runs from June 22 through December 31, 2016.

ALBANY, NEW YORK— The Albany Institute of History & Art will be decorated and ready to welcome locals and out-of-area guests to the museum for “Home for the Holidays” this Thanksgiving weekend. The museum, which in the past has hosted holiday-themed events such as the beloved Festival of Trees, rekindled that holiday spirit in 2014 with a three-day extravaganza of holiday programs, specialty vendors, and of course, trees. This year, the free admission weekend is once again packed with festive activities that will appeal to the entire family.

ALBANY, NY— The Albany Institute of History & Art will host the fourth annual Work of Art fundraiser on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 5–8PM.

ALBANY, NY—The Albany Institute of History & Art is pleased to host William Kennedy and Michael Oatman for a discussion “About Creativity” on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 2pm. Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and Oatman, an artist, curator, and professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, are highly regarded for their creativity and their contributions to the Capital Region’s rich art and literary environment. Kennedy and Oatman will talk about the creative process and how they have used the Capital Region as inspiration and basis for their work. This program is free and open to the public. Tickets for seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis on October 18. 

ALBANY, NY— The Albany Institute of History & Art will offer FREE admission to the museum on Monday, October 12, 2015 from 10AM-5PM. This Holiday Monday free admission day is sponsored by M&T Bank.

ALBANY, NY—Audience is central to Eric Egas’ work with anaglyphs. Anaglyphs, which are three-dimensional stereoscopic images, trick the eye into seeing depth with 3D glasses. Egas’ compositions coax onlookers to participate and enter into spaces created by his oversized printed photographs. His focus on anaglyphs evolved from his work with installations that enclosed the viewer within multiple changing images to evoke imaginary worlds between dream and memory. Seeing Double: The Anaglyphs of Eric Egas is his first anaglyph exhibition of this size in the United States. Seeing Double will open at the Albany Institute of History & Art on August 15, 2015 and will run through October 25, 2015.

ALBANY, NY— “What is the Hudson River School?” is the frequently asked question that prompted the Albany Institute of History & Art to present the exhibition The Making of the Hudson River School: More than the Eye Beholds in 2013. Popular with Capital Region residents and tourists alike, the exhibition featured 96 works from the Albany Institute’s collection of Hudson River School paintings, drawings, prints, and historical documents, along with 38 works from several private collections that had not been shown before in a public exhibition. This exhibition, which highlights such a key component of New York State’s history and the history of American art, has been digitized and is now available as the museum’s first online exhibition, bringing the story of the Hudson River School to greater audiences.

ALBANY, NY— The Albany Institute of History & Art will host its biggest event of the year, the 2015 Museum Gala, on the evening of Saturday, June 6, 2015. The Board of Trustees of the Albany Institute is dedicating this year’s gala to Elizabeth “Betty” Sonneborn for her lifelong support of arts institutions in Albany. Sonneborn has volunteered at the Albany Institute of History & Art since 1940. She joined the Board of Trustees in 1978. Her mother, Bessie Aufsesser, was a devoted member of the Institute’s board before her.