About the Exhibition
Art at the Edge of Empire is the 2027 iteration of the Dorsky Museum’s annual Hudson Valley Artists exhibition. Guest-curated byKate Steciw, it brings together practices that have chosen “the edge” as their starting point.
For generations, the Hudson Valley has served as a refuge or sanctuary for the creative spirit. It is a place where ideas can germinate outside of the noise and pressure of the city, a place geographically at the Edge of Empire. There are, however, many other “edges” at play in the current creative climate. Rapid advances in technology, late-stage capitalism, the looming environmental catastrophe, and political upheavals have put us collectively on edge. They also represent an edge in and of themselves: a precipice at which we all stand.
This group show of artists living or working in the Hudson Valley will investigate the creative act as it exists in the current maelstrom of change and instability. It invites artwork that explores what art looks like and how it functions in this new reality. Who is making art that edges empire? What new aesthetic vistas reflect our moment of collective crisis?
The exhibition will be on view at the Dorsky Museum February 6 - April 4, 2027.
About the Curator
Kate Steciw creates sculptural works that push the boundaries of conventional photography, amplifying the ways in which digital processes of editing, dissemination, and printing reveal new possibilities for the photographic image.Steciw’s interventions act as an assertion of agency in the otherwise vast and unpredictable environment of digital images. Recent works of collaged canvas prints return this gesture to the physical realm. Images are sourced from personal archives, social media and licensed as stock then, printed on canvas and collaged onto wood panels use as few “moves” as possible. The work resists the complexity and density often associated with collage. Unlike, earlier work in which the gesture remained confined to the digital realm, these new works are decidedly hand-made. Whether digital or physical, Steciw refers to these works as "Constructions" - a title that speaks to the active processes of constructing and rendering works of art from essentially immaterial digital images.
Submission guidelines
The Hudson Valley Artists exhibition is open to all artists with a permanent mailing address and active fine art practice in Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties.
Students and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art staff, advisory board members, and their immediate families are not eligible.
Eligible artists are invited to submit a maximum of six images or video files of work created in 2023 or later.
All types of fine art and all art mediums will be considered.
Brief proposals for new works including installation, social practice, or performance may also be submitted. The Museum will not cover the material expenses related to producing a new work.
There is no application fee.
Submission deadline: by midnight on Friday, September 11, 2026.
The Hudson Valley Artists Annual Purchase Award of $3,000 will be used to acquire one or more artworks from the exhibition for the Museum’s permanent collection. This Purchase Award is made possible thanks to the Alice and Horace Chandler Art Acquisition Fund.
Delivery of Accepted Work
All works must be hand-delivered by the artist, or a representative of the artist, according to the following schedule:
Drop Off: December 14 and 15, 2026
Pick Up: April 8 and 9, 2027
Accepted artists will be advised of specific drop off and pick up times. Please note that all accepted artworks must be delivered and picked-up in person. The museum cannot accept artworks from delivery services, FedEx, UPS or USPS. Any artworks left in the museum after April 9 will be subject to a storage fee.
Installation
All works selected for display must be framed or delivered in a manner ready for installation. For works that have complicated installation and deinstallation procedures, it is the responsibility of the artist to complete all necessary tasks. While The Dorsky Museum has a limited supply of equipment, it is the responsibility of the artist to supply any equipment for video projects, performance pieces and the like.
About The Dorsky Museum
Through its collections, exhibitions and public programs, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art supports and enriches the academic programs at the College and serves as a center for Hudson Valley arts and culture. With more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, The Dorsky Museum is one of the largest museums in the SUNY system. Since its official dedication in 2001, The Dorsky has presented more than 100 exhibitions, including commissions, collection-based projects, and in-depth studies of contemporary artists including Robert Morris, Alice Neel, Judy Pfaff, Carolee Schneemann and Ushio Shinohara.
Museum Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, holidays and intersessions. For more information about The Dorsky Museum and its programs, visit www.newpaltz.edu/museum or call (845) 257-3844.