Hudson River Museum Modernizes the Gilded Age

Through May 13, Hudson River Museum presents more than twenty artists whose works are inspired by aesthetics of the 19th-century Victorian era but also comment on contemporary social issues. The Neo-Victorians: Contemporary Artists Revive Gilded-Age Glamour is largely referential of the Gilded Age, masking reflections of today’s concerns with overt beauty and ornate design sensibilities. For instance, the Museum’s teaching-artist- in-residence Ebony Bolt introduces modern illustrations of homeless people that were drawn on the subway into digitally rendered patterns inspired by designer William Morris. Artist Troy Abbott inserts a digital screen depicting an animated bird inside a Victorian-style birdcage.

The Museum embraces the theme of its exhibition by fully immersing it with the Museum’s resources. Several Neo-Victorians installations are incorporated into Glenview, the museum’s Gilded Age home; its planetarium presents Victorian’s Guide to the Galaxy, a new show that relates to the overall exhibition theme.
An array of programs incorporate Victorian themes as well. Those events include The History of Pipe Smoking (March 3), a talk by curator Bartholomew Bland about the preparation of the exhibition from concept to completion (March 14), a performance of songs by Gilbert and Sullivan (March 18), and guided tours and talks by artists and the Museum’s curatorial staff. For more info, visit hrm.org.

Photo caption: Pink by Laurent Chehere

A version of this article first appeared in the March issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.