'Hidden Hudson' & 'All Things Considered VIII' to Open at Fruitlands Museum

Fruitlands Museum presents two fascinating new exhibitions in the Art Museum this fall. Presented in partnership with the National Basketry Organization, All Things Considered VIII will feature a dazzling array of traditional and sculptural work made by the most accomplished contemporary basket makers from around the country. Hidden Hudson will showcase rarely seen works from Fruitlands' renowned Hudson River School landscape collection. Both exhibitions will be on view September 18 - November 22, 2015.

A juried and invitational exhibition, All Things Considered VIII, is a biannual show organized by the National Basketry Organization that features some of the best work being produced in contemporary basketry today. Master Basket Maker JoAnn Kelly Catsos and American Craft Council Director of Education Perry Price brought their years of experience and passion for basketry to co-curate the exhibition, selecting 70 baskets out of 281 entries from all across the country. From traditional ash splint baskets expertly executed, whimsical forms based on mathematical formulas, woven copper and mixed materials, this exhibition has an amazing assortment of colorful forms. The jurors made their selections based on concept, craftsmanship, inventiveness and overall aesthetic success, and the exhibit represents a wide variety of styles, techniques, and materials.

Artists featured are Jackie Abrams, Linda Allen, Dona Anderson, Pamela Becker, Lanny Bergner, Antoinette Best, Danielle Bodine, Clay Burnette, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Mary Catello, JoAnn Kelly Catsos, Ann Coddington, Deb Curtis, Martin and Erik Demaine, Sharon Dugan, Emily Dvorin, Carol Eckert, Kathey Ervin, Jean Fausser, Lynne Francis-Lunn, David Fraser, Poppy Hatinger, Beth Hester, Christine Joy, Mary Sue Joy, Donna Kallner, Lin Bentley Keeling, Carol Lang, Katherine Lewis, Karol Lindquist, Sandy Miller, Patricia Moritz, Carolyn Reznikoff, Joh Ricci, Lois Russell, Kathryn Rousso, Elizabeth Runyon, Amanda Salm, Judith Saunders, Billie Rae Sims, Barbara Shapiro, Norman Sherfield, Nadine Spier, Emily Squires Levine, Sharon Stafford, Jo Stealey, Tressa Sularz, Pam Talsky, Karen Tembreull, Peeta Tinay, Leona Waddell, Dawn Walden, Barbara Weber, Shannon Weber, Sherri West, Peggy Wiedmann, Vladimir Yarish, Judy Zugish, and Jennifer Zurick.

Hidden Hudson will showcase selections from Fruitlands' renowned Hudson River School landscape collection. As the name implies, these paintings have been somewhat hidden in collection storage, as Fruitlands has recently featured exhibits on contemporary art, photography and the 100th anniversary show. The landscape collection contains about 100 paintings done between 1825 and 1875. This fall's exhibit will draw from paintings that have not been shown in recent years. Recognized as the first truly American school of art, the Hudson River School artists had a deep spiritual affinity with nature, and found inspiration in the beauty of the American landscape. Among the leading artists featured will be Christopher Pearse Cranch, Thomas Hill, Robert Swain Gifford, Alfred Britcher, Thomas Chambers, and Frederic Church.

EVENTS & RELATED PROGRAMMING

FAMILY DROP-IN WORKSHOP: DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN HUDSON

Sunday, September 20, 2015 | 12-4PM | Free with admission

Leaping deer, Native American baskets, farmers in a field... Can you spot the details hidden in the scenery of the landscape paintings featured in special exhibition Hidden Hudson? Meet in the art gallery for a scavenger hunt and then join us outside where you and your children can make a landscape painting of their own.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FILM: HUDSON RIVER JOURNEYS

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | 7-8PM | $5 suggested donation

The Hudson River bore witness to the age of steamships, the first recognized school of American painting, industrialization, pollution, and revitalization. Always the river has served as an inspiration. Hudson River Journeys allows us the opportunity to see that inspiration continue today, through the eyes of renowned artist Len Tantillo and legendary folksinger Pete Seeger.

HIDDEN HUDSON LECTURE

Sunday, October 4, 2015 | 1-2PM | Members $5, Nonmembers $10

Nationally recognized contemporary plein air artist Erik Koeppel has spent most of his life creating masterful paintings in the style of the Hudson River School movement of the mid-1800s. Believing in the expressive potential of traditional representation, Koeppel strives to master the look and feel of the Hudson River School painters. These works, most notably created by Thomas Cole (1801-1848), possess a distinctive sense of air, dramatic light and distance. Join us for an illustrated lecture of Koeppel's work that pay tribute to the natural beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains and the majestic power of the Hudson River School painters.

ART WORKSHOP: TRADITIONAL REED BASKETRY WITH JEAN REED

Saturday, October 17, 2015 | Members $125, Nonmembers $150

Basket maker Jean Reed teaches basketry, chair caning, and array of specialized classes in her Hill, NH studio. In this special Fruitlands basketry workshop, Jean will teach beginning and intermediate basket makers how to weave a traditional basket form made with reed. Join her in this eight-hour class and learn the joy of creating something wonderful with your hands. Space is limited. Registration required.

BASKET WEEKEND

Saturday & Sunday, October 24-25, | 10AM-5PM | Free with Admission

Here's your chance to marvel at the amazing tradition of basket making. Join us for a weekend of activities exploring baskets and basket weaving. Our celebration will include weaving demonstrations, basket making crafts for children, guided tours of the National Basket Organization annual exhibition All Things Considered VIII, a community basket bombing workshop, and more.

ART WORKSHOP: WEAVE PAPER BASKETS WITH LYNNE FRANCIS-LUNN

Saturday, October 24, 2015 | 10AM-2PM |Members $20, Nonmembers $25, $10 Materials fee

Explore traditional bias basketry techniques using colorful, hand painted papers in this introductory workshop led by contemporary basket maker Lynne Francis Lunn. Featured in All Things Considered VIII, Lunn is an emerging basket maker with a unique eye for color and composition. All supplies provided, no experience necessary. Space is limited. Registration required.

ART WORKSHOP: WOVEN CATHEAD BASKET WITH JACKIE ABRAMS

Saturday, November 14, 2015 | 10AM-4PM | Members $125, Nonmembers $150

A fiber artist for over 40 years, Jackie Abrams uses well-practiced basket making techniques in combination with silk, cotton, archival paper, wire, thread, and buttons to form beautiful woven vessels. In this workshop, participants will use hand painted watercolor papers to create a gracefully shaped cathead basket from beginning to end. Choose your own size, color, shape and pattern. Explore, experiment and have fun! Perfect for beginning as well as experienced basket weavers. Supplies included in the registration cost.

To register for art workshops and classes, please email programming@fruitlands.org or call (978) 456-3924, ext. 239

Fruitlands Museum is open Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., weekends and holidays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $5 for children 5 - 13, and free for members and children under 5. Fruitlands Museum is located at 102 Prospect Hill Road in Harvard, Mass. For more information please visit www.fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924 ext. 292.