CATSKILL — Most people who enjoy Thomas Cole’s art and the subsequent Hudson River School of Painting that his 19th century style of art fostered are well aware of the huge body of work that he and others like Frederic Church and Asher B. Durand left behind for posterity. However, an unofficial 21st century Hudson River School of Painting — if you will — is also being practiced, in homage to the original, and one place some of those paying tribute to the early source material will have their works displayed is at the first Thomas Cole Weekend, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in Catskill, this Saturday, May 10. Sawyer - Video Ad Sawyer - Equinox Ad And why is St. Luke’s hosting a Thomas Cole Weekend? Because, while the artistic aspects of Cole’s life may be much in the public eye, the fact remains that Cole was a deeply religious person, and what many do not know is that St. Luke’s was not only the church where he worshipped; he was also a vestryman there. In short, the connection between Thomas Cole and St. Luke’s is about as direct as the realm of history can provide. Catskill resident and St. Luke’s member Madeline Behrmann, who chairs the event’s outreach committee, explained the nature of the exhibit. “On Saturday, May 10, from noon to 6 p.m.,” said Behrmann, “we are presenting a juried art show, with 19 artists and photographers participating.” “The show is divided into two classes,” she said, noting that the first is “religious themed paintings in the style of the Hudson River School and Thomas Cole.” The prize for the best painting in that category is $300, so the works on display will certainly reflect the style, and the man, that the exhibit is intended to honor. Behrmann said the second category is “an open class for paintings and photographers,” and was also open for drawings and sculpture as well, and the winner of that class will receive $200. In addition to the exhibit, St. Luke’s also has a significant raffle occurring later in the day. “We have received a painting by the late Lester G. Hornby,” Behrmann said, “which is valued at $1,000, to be raffled off on Saturday evening.” “Hornby’s works hang in prestigious museums in the U. S. and Europe,” she added. Some of those museums include the National Museum of American Art, in Washington, the Metropolitan Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Boston Museum of Fine Arts, plus others in Paris and London. Then, on Sunday, May 11, at 10:15 a.m., you can travel back in time and, in a manner of speaking, experience worship as Cole did, because the Rector at St. Luke’s, Rev. Dr. Leander S. Harding, will use an 1835 Book of Common Prayer for the celebration of the Eucharist — thus presenting a type of service that Cole would have attended and experienced. Afterward, there will also be a special blessing of the artists, in which local artists are encouraged to bring a symbol of their craft — a paint brush, sketch pad, camera, or other utensil or tool — to the blessing. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at 50 William Street, Catskill, and is only a short walk up the hill from the Willard Alley Municipal Parking Lot, on Main Street. ***
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 11:23:03 +0000
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