Tradition & Chaos

The Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art will present “Tradition and Chaos”, September 10th, from 2 to 5pm. The panel discussion will explore the work of senior artists now on view in the current exhibition, “Between I & Thou”. The panelists will offer insight into the artists’ lives and the challenges and advantages of continuing to work as older artists. The artists are in their 70’s to their 90’s, and include Judy Zabar, Barbara Korman, Liz Quisgard, Yardena Donig Youner, Mark Berghash, and Tony Howarth, and will be moderated by Sara J. Pasti. Livia Straus, co-founder and director of HVCCA, said “The discussion will focus on the diversity of experience among the panelists. For example, Liz Quisgard has always been an artist. She’s lived an artist’s life. She’s reached a stage, which I find fascinating, where she’s giving away much of her work. Ms. Quizgard has been writing to museums offering to donate her work, and it’s brought her attention. Suddenly, she’s getting a lot of museum exposure and the museums are keeping her work. She’s building a very strong resume older in life. Then there are other artists like Judy Zabar, whose work didn’t start out as a career, but an avocation. She did it because she loved art and painting. And now, later in life, she is seen as an accomplished artist and is gaining serious recognition.” The challenges of finding time for art in the chaos of everyday life will be examined. “How do you make art while attending to the familial and economic concerns?” asked deputy director Mara Mills. “How have these artists continued to be artists in a world that is so often historically and politically chaotic and hostile to artmaking?” The afternoon will begin with panelist Tony Howarth reading from his upcoming book of poetry, Thrownaway at 2pm. Thrownaway, examines the artistic process of a “wild man of the mountain” as he refurbishes unwanted and broken “thrownaway” items. Howarth's work has been published in Chronogram, The Connecticut River Review, The Blue Door Quarterly, Chantrelle’s Notebook, Tiger’s Eye, The Naugatuck River Review, and Prompt Literary Magazine. Judy Zabar, Barbara Korman, Liz Quisgard, and Yardena Donig Youner all have work in “Between I & Thou” and Mark Berghash’s solo show “I’s Open, I’s Closed” is on view at HVCCA through September 30th. “Between I & Thou” includes artists from many different areas of the globe and explores the interconnections between the personal, cultural, religious and national. The works reflect the human need to tell the story of self and society, offering a rich conversation about the sameness and differentness among us. Sara J. Pasti, moderator, is The Neil C. Trager Director of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. Prior to her appointment at the Dorsky Museum in January 2009. She has held executive leadership positions in visual and performing arts organizations, serving as Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington and Managing Director of On the Boards/Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance in Seattle, WA, among others. She currently serves as Chair of the SUNY Council of Museums and Galleries and as a board member of the Museum Association of New York.