Exhibitions:
GREAT, STRANGE, AND RARELY SEEN: Objects From The Vault
A GATHER OF GLASS: SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION
FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN: GEORGE WASHINGTON
Events
GREAT, STRANGE, AND RARELY SEEN: Objects From The Vault
APRIL 14-AUGUST 26, 2012
Main Floor Galleries
The Albany Institute of History & Art has unlocked its vault to present some of the little-known yet truly magnificent objects in the new exhibition Great, Strange and Rarely Seen: Objects from the Vault opening Saturday, April 14, 2012. A special exhibition opening reception will be hosted on April 12.
The exhibition reveals the cosmopolitan breadth of the Institute’s holdings with stunning Chinese lacquer, intricately carved Japanese netsuke, and 18th-century English porcelain statuettes. Other collections, like patent models and human hair jewelry, demonstrate the ingenious and quirky sides of human creativity. Also to be included are panoramic photographs, unusual clocks, a chronology of mirrors, women’s bonnets and hats, British and American fortepianos, and riches from the Library.
Individuals are invited to celebrate the opening of the exhibition with a special reception on Thursday, April 12 from 5-7 PM at the Albany Institute. Guests will enjoy a preview of Great, Strange and Rarely Seen followed by wine and light hors d’oeuvres. This event is FREE of charge.
The distinguished history of St. Peter’s Church, begins in 1704 when England’s Queen Ann founded a “Chapel of the Onondagas” to bring missionaries to North America and granted land in Albany to build an Anglican Church. This first church, a gambrel-roofed, masonry structure, was built in 1715-1717 on State Street near Lodge Street. In 1802 Albany architect Phillip Hooker designed a new Federal Style church at the same location, which Richard Upjohn of New York City, well-known for his Gothic Revival Style replaced in 1860. His son, Richard M. Upjohn added the impressive bell tower in 1876. The richly decorated interiors include work by leading artists designers including windows designed by the English artist Edward C. Burne-Jones and fabricated by the William Morris Company of London in 1880; the chancel windows made by Clayton and Bell of London in 1885; and the rose window over the State Street entrance made by the Tiffany Company in 1892. The exhibition, drawn from the collections of St. Peter’s Church and the Albany Institute, include the rarely seen 1712 Queen Anne Communion Service, land grants, portraits, furniture, drawings, prints, maps, and photographs arranged to highlight the history of the church and its role in the historical events that shaped Albany and the upper Hudson Valley.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.Enjoy a docent-led tour of the Albany Institute’s newest exhibitions. FREE with museum admission.
PLAY FOR ALL
SATURDAYS, OCTOBER 1-MARCH 4 | 10 AM- 5 PM
EXTRA PLAY FOR ALL on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 | NOON-5 PM
Drop in during regular museum hours on Saturdays to enjoy additional Kid Stuff interactive art stations as well as museum educators in the galleries to guide visitors through the interactive components of the exhibition. FREE with museum admission.
KID STUFF FAMILY FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 10 AM-5PM
To celebrate Kid Stuff there will be musical instrument making in our studio and musical parade through the
galleries at 3 PM. FREE with museum admission.
A GATHER OF GLASS: SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION
CLOSING 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 processes 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 samples from the Institute’s Corning service of cut glass tableware, Albany Glass Works flasks, and lacy glass saltcellars.
Black Cases, Lansing Gallery
FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN: GEORGE WASHINGTON
AUGUST 27, 2011–MAY 20, 2012
George Washington—farmer, military hero, founding father of the United States. He is our best known president and doubtless our most pictured president. In life, Washington gained the respect and admiration of his countrymen. Following his death in December 1799 Washington transcended mortal existence to become a symbol for America that endures to this day. Drawn from the collections of the Institute and private collectors, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen features a variety of materials that depict Washington or have personal connections to the revered figure. From paintings and prints by Alex Katz and Currier and Ives to glass flasks and cast-iron stoves, this diverse range of objects reveals our infatuation with this national hero, our memorialization of his deeds and personal character, and the inevitable marketability of Washington’s image from the late eighteenth century to the present.
Square, Round, and Jabbur GalleriesOn the Civil War home front and on the battlefields, Albany residents played key roles in providing for the medical care of the sick and wounded. This exhibition examines the medical concerns and necessities of the war through objects, photographs, broadsides, and letters. Featured are materials related to the 1864 Albany Relief Bazaar held in support of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, created and sanctioned by the U.S. War Department to raise funds for medical supplies and to improve camp conditions for Union troops. The exhibition compares the home front efforts of the Relief Bazaar with the field notes and correspondence of Albert Vander Veer, an Albany physician and surgeon, and his brother Garrett, a soldier who sent home revealing letters about battles, camp life, and the mental stress caused by the war. Images of Abraham Lincoln, national leader and inspirational force throughout the conflict will accompany the exhibition. This exhibition is supported by Albany Medical Center.
Entry Gallery
Events Calendar
On the first Friday of each month, the Albany Institute remains open until 8:00 p.m. and admission to their galleries is free from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Likewise, as part of the University Club’s celebration of 1st Friday, one need not be a member to enjoy live music, dinner, and dancing in the Grille Room; dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted.
