The Hudson River School and Tatzu Nishi

Thomas Cole

Two great exhibitions are next door to one another on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.  The New York Historical Society is showing "Nature and The American Vision: The Hudson River School" and the Tatzu Nishi installation "Discovering Columbus" is on view at Columbus Circle... (FYI you have to reserve your time slot for this exhibition at http://www.publicartfund.org/view/exhibitions/5495_ discovering_columbus).

The third painting of the "Course of Empire" paintings

The Hudson River School group of painters is historically important in this country.  They were in awe of the American landscape.  It seemed untamed compared to Europe.  Coupled with their admiration for mountains, valleys, and waterways they mastered the technique of mimicking light and atmosphere.  These paintings, similar to Vermeer's work and Turner's, seem to radiate light.  You feel more as if you are gazing outside of window when viewing these pictures than looking at a flat surface.

Their best works in my opinion are studies of landscapes that were made on the spot.  Thomas Cole's famed "Course of Empire" is overly cerebral for my tastes.  Even though this five painting series illustrates his ideas of nature's predominance over mankind, I favor his work of simple, dignified natural subjects.  I like these works because of their minimal cerebral quality and their quiet yet powerful contemplative aura.

Albert Bierstadt

Thomas Cole

Asher Brown Durand

John Frederick Kensett

Asher Brown Durand

John Frederick Kensett

Asher Brown Durand's Art Supplies

 

 



"Discovering Columbus" by Tatzu Nishi was pretty amazing. The 120 year old Columbus sculpture standing 75 feet high over Columbus Circle has an imposing presence. I can't say that the exhibit gave me any new ideas about Columbus. In fact, the installation didn't appear to have anything specifically to do with the explorer. Inside the living room there were sofas, a lamp, a bookshelf, and oddly enough a TV that was turned on to Fox News or CNN. I thought cable was a bit much... In fact grade school students that were there for the exhibit were huddled around the television chatting about the presidential debate. I would've liked to have seen the interior a little more thoughtfully decorated. For example, deck the heck out of the interior... make it lavish and over the top with gaudiness... or turn Columbus into a Pop art installation by covering all the surfaces in hot pink... or make some political statement by using "Gober-like" wallpaper of dying Native Americans from small pox. Overall, it's an exhibition worth going to see and having a conversation about afterwards. Afterall, making a 75 foot high historical sculpture seem like its the center piece in a posh New York apartment is something you don't experience everyday.