View the Mid-Hudson Libraries Tempestry Collection through 2027

The largest collection of “tempestries” in the world will be traveling to local libraries over the next 18 months. The Mid-Hudson Libraries Tempestry Collection is a unique, data-driven community art project that involved 130 area knitters, recruited by their local libraries.On Earth Day in 2025 the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) announced something unique – a call for 130 knitters to volunteer through their local library to help with a data-driven community art project to depict 130 years of climate data though ‘tempestries’ (temperature + tapestry). This project came together thanks to a collaboration between the Mid-Hudson Library System and The Tempestry Project and debuted on April 29th at a reception at Mohonk Mountain House.

One of the ongoing problems inherent in discussions about climate change is the vast scale of the conversation. The Tempestry Project’s goal is to scale this down into something that is accurate, tangible, relatable, and beautiful. Blending fiber art with temperature data creates a bridge between global climate and our own personal experiences through knitted temperature tapestries, or ‘Tempestries.’

A Tempestry is a knitted scarf-sized wall hanging that shows the daily high temperatures for a specific location and year. Collectively, a group of Tempestries for one location (such as the Mid-Hudson Libraries Collection which covers Hudson Valley data from 1895-2025) creates a powerful visual representation of changing temperatures over time.

"We are so proud of our libraries and their knitters for not only telling the story of climate change in the Hudson Valley but telling the story of our knitters. Reading why each knitter chose the year they did and then watching them recognize their work in the context of the other Tempestries at the reception was a moving experience," said Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Executive Director of the Mid-Hudson Library System, "This is the largest collection of Tempestries in the world, a testament to what libraries and our communities can do when we work together."

The Mid-Hudson Libraries Tempestry Collection is now set to travel throughout our service area in 2026 and 2027, covering Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster counties. Please check each library’s exhibit dates and hours prior to visiting.

The Mid-Hudson Libraries Tempestry Collection exhibit schedule:

• May – June 2026: Hyde Park Library District
• July – September 2026: Mahopac Library
• November 14 – December 2026: Olive Free Library
• January – March 2027: Elting Memorial Library
• April – June 2027: Hudson Area Association Library
• July – September 2027: Claverack Free Library
• October – December 2027: Putnam Valley Free Library

This traveling exhibit was made possible thanks to a special legislative grant from Senator Michele Hinchey.

About Us

The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) works to create a world in which individuals, families and communities thrive when they have access to information, resources, learning environments and library services that respect the triple bottom line of social equity, economic feasibility, and environmental stewardship. MHLS is the first public library system in the country to be certified through the Sustainability Libraries Initiative’s award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program. MHLS is a cooperative public library system chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and overseen by the New York State Education Department via the Division of Library Development (DLD). MHLS is dedicated to working together with sixty-six (66) member libraries in the Mid-Hudson region to strengthen local library services while saving local tax dollars. For more information, visit www.midhudson.org or follow the library system on Facebook,Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Tempestry Project

The Tempestry Project is personal and collaborative fiber art, environmental awareness, and climate activism via data representation all rolled into a sprawling community of friends, artists, crafters, teachers, scientists, activists, nature lovers, and more. Learn more at [www.tempestryproject.com]www.tempestryproject.com.