I was pleased to get to the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art in Peekskill and see this Center, the work of Marc and Livia Straus, collectors of cutting edge contemporary art for over 35 years, and people who are devoted to developing a public space where such works would be exhibited and used for educational purposes. Located in an area away from the activities of a regenerated downtown, and in what felt to be a “run-down” part of town, I approached a large unobtrusive building from the parking lot and was unprepared (although I have been reading about the center and their collection) for what I saw when I entered, and was greeted by Director Sara Pasti. It was huge: 24 foot ceilings, a relatively open 10,000 square foot space that was partitioned off to present more intimate viewing areas including a reading room, lecture space and dedicated media galleries for video and sound works, plus a 2,500 square foot mezzanine with additional gallery space and offices. The artwork (from the Straus’s collection) was diverse and of high quality.

The center is not a collecting institution, but a place where work will be on view for at least a year in the large space, and in the smaller, upstairs area, exhibits will change several times a year. On May 22, Figure It Out: Contemporary Figurative work in video and sculpture will open and feature work by a younger generation; re-opening in the Mezzanine Gallery will be First Look, an invitational exhibit by 15 artists graduating from MFA programs around the country.

On May 19, at 6pm, video artist Olaf Breuning’s Home and Group will be shown with a discussion following. Artist Residencies and projects, interdisciplinary events, parent and family programs, public lectures, discussions and symposia as well as student/adult docent programs are all part of the mission of this institution. I am impressed by the scope of the project and the high level of professionalism of the supporting staff. HVCCA is an important and valued addition to the art offerings of the region. Learn even more by going to Peekskill and seeing the center and at their website: www.hvcca.org.

Cover Story by Cornelia Seckel

Art Times; Vol.21 No.9

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