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Seneca Ray Stoddard: Capturing the Adirondacks Showcases Nature’s Splendor he historical splendor of New York State’s Adirondack Mountains will be showcased in Seneca Ray Stoddard: Capturing the Adirondacks, on view May 28 through September 18 in the Museum of Art.
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On view May 28 through September 18
Stoddard’s legacy of Adirondack photographs and publications simultaneously romanticized the “untrammeled” wilderness while enticing increasing numbers of visitors. The growth of the tourist trade and the parallel expansion of railroads and hotel construction were crucial to Stoddard’s livelihood as he published numerous illustrated guidebooks and maps in addition to souvenir photographs.
Photographer, artist, cartographer, and environmentalist, Seneca Ray Stoddard (1843-1917) forever changed America’s vision of the Adirondack wilderness by promoting that vision to a post-Civil War Stoddard was an early advocate of audience that was beginning to the movement to protect the have the means to follow in his Adirondack wilderness from unregadventuresome footsteps. Featurulated mining and logging and to ing more than 118 original exampreserve its natural mystique for ples of Stoddard’s photographs future generations. In 1892, he Seneca Ray Stoddard, American, (1844-1917), The Great Peaks of the Adirondacks from the —as well as paintings, drawings, launched his career as a public South, ca. 1889. Collection of Edward Comstock Jr., Saranac Lake, NY illustrated publications, cameras, lecturer and environmental activist and a boat—this exhibition, which was organized by the New York State by touring New York State speaking in favor of the passage of a bill creatMuseum, illustrates how Stoddard’s alluring images of landscapes, traveling the Adirondack Park. His efforts led to the 1892 "Forever Wild" clause ers, and explorers captivated viewers and shaped attitudes toward New in the New York State Constitution. This clause assures that the lands conYork’s natural scenery. stituting the forest preserve in the State shall be forever kept as wild. Stoddard was among a generation of American photographers who pioneered the field of landscape photography. His photographs also capture generations of vacationers hunting, camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and gathering around campfires gazing at magnificent vistas of mountains and lakes. Equally, Stoddard depicted local inhabitants—Native American camps, brute lumbermen, backwoods guides, wealthy entrepreneurs, and genial hotelkeepers.
Stoddard also ventured beyond the Adirondacks, a fact often overlooked amidst his thousands of inspiring images of the region. Some of his most technologically challenging photographs were taken in New York City, and examples of his stunning photographs of the Statue of Liberty are included in the Museum’s exhibition.
Seneca Ray Stoddard: Capturing the Adirondacks is presented at the Museum of Art with the support of Citizens Bank.
Selected Shorts Saturday, May 21 • 8 p.m.
Back by Popular Demand, Live in Performance! Lots of Laughs he hit public radio series and popular podcast, Live in Performance! Lots of Laughs, returns by popular demand 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21 in the Sculpture Court. Tony-award winning actress Joanna Gleason will serve as our host for the evening. She will be joined on stage by her husband, Chris Sarandon, and Obie awardwinning Broadway star Michael Potts.
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Gleason is a Tony Award-winning actress who is known for her roles on Broadway including I Love My Wife and Into the Woods. Her film career includes roles in Hannah and Her Sisters and Sex in the City. Her television credits include ER, The West Wing, The Practice, and The Affair. In 2007, Gleason was honored by the New England Theatre Conference with a Special Award for Achievement in Theatre.
Chris Sarandon was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as Leon in Dog Day Afternoon. He is also known for his roles in The Princess Bride, Fright Night, and as the voice of Jack Skellington in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. On television, he has appered on Law & Order, Orange Is the New Black, and the Hallmark adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. His Broadway appearances include Two Gentlemen of Verona, Nick & Nora, The Light in the Piazza, and Cyrano de Bergerac. Michael Potts is well-known for his role of Brother Mouzone in The Wire and as Detective Maynard Gilbough in the Emmy Award-winning HBO drama, True Detective. His numerous television appearances include Gotham, Law & Order: SVU, and The Cosby Show. On Broadway, he originated the role of Mafala Hatimbi in The Book of Mormon, and was in the companies of Grey Gardens and Lennon. He originated the role of Paul
Pierce in Tony Kushner’s The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures at the Guthrie Theatre.
Tickets for this performance are $37.50 for members, $42.50 for general admission, and $22.50 for students. Flexible subscriptions are also available. The museum opens at 7 p.m. so patrons may view the current exhibitions, socialize and visit the Museum Shop. Selected Shorts will also feature a cash bar and a special gallery talk at intermission. For tickets contact the Performing Arts Ticket Office at 797-0055 or 800-754-0797. Tickets are also available online at www.mwpai.org. "One of the finest evenings at the theatre." — David Sedaris
Sponsored by Steven and Dorian Critelli in memory of Delores Y. Critelli