May’s bustling schedule of art fairs and auctions positions New York City as a vibrant center for art enthusiasts. However, for those seeking a moment of respite, several nearby destinations offer enriching art experiences worth exploring.
Just an hour’s train ride from Penn Station, the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University boasts a significant collection emphasizing American, European, and Soviet nonconformist art. Although historically overshadowed by New York’s major museums, the Zimmerli has recently seen record attendance since the February opening of “Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always.” This extensive exhibition features 97 established and emerging Indigenous artists such as Jeffrey Gibson, Terran Last Gun, Wendy Red Star, and Marie Watt. The show was curated by the late Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, an artist who was honored with a major retrospective in 2023 and passed away shortly before the exhibition debuted.
Running through December 21, the exhibition is the largest among the more than 30 curated by Smith throughout her career in the United States. Zimmerli’s director, Maura Reilly, noted that Smith played a pivotal role in shaping Native art history by providing a platform for many artists. Unlike conventional curatorial approaches, Smith invited each artist to express how they wished to be represented, fostering an inclusive and respectful presentation. Smith described the exhibition as a “celebration of life,” emphasizing themes of kinship, community, survivance, solidarity, and resilience.
Two centuries ago, the painter Thomas Cole embarked on a significant journey up the Hudson River to Catskill, where the inspiring landscape led him to establish the Hudson River School of landscape art. In 1836, Cole moved into the family home of Maria Bartow, whom he married, in Catskill. The view from their porch overlooking the Catskill Mountains became one of his most frequently depicted subjects.
