Opening Day: NXTHVN x The Campus
Two Saturdays ago, an inaugural exhibition featuring six galleries opened at The Campus in Hudson, NY. This one-of-a-kind venture is setting the tone for creative innovation in the art world.
A few months ago, we watched Christopher Wool revitalize an abandoned office space and transform it into a backdrop for his ongoing exhibition, See Stop Run. The rawness of the locale, which soars above FiDi on the 19th floor, allows Wool to reclaim agency over how the space is utilized and interacts with his art.
In a similar vein, Jack Shainman Gallery opened The School in 2014. A former high school in Kinderhook, NY, the building was transformed into a large-scale, versatile exhibition space. Since its opening, The School has highlighted artists like Nick Cave, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol.
Initiatives like these have started revolutionizing our pre-conceived notions of what gallery spaces should look like. The anatomy of the venue is slowly being broken down, with artists and curators exploring new possibilities within the framework of presentation and display.
In the wake of such ventures, a daring new project has joined the stage. To take a closer look, we need to step out of Manhattan and head north.
Built in 1951, the Ockawamick School near Hudson, New York was once a bustling student hub. However, the 78,000 square-foot building remained vacant and unrenovated since the 90’s. Hudson, an artistic and cultural epicenter nestled two hours from New York City, boasts a large variety of prominent galleries and has flourished in recent decades as a haven for creative souls. It was thus the perfect locale for NXTHVN — a non-profit collaborative organization for the arts — to propose an exhibition which would pay homage to the community while uplifting emerging artists.
In partnership with curator Timo Kappeller and James Cohan Gallery, the school became “The Campus”. On June 29th, The Campus hosted six galleries and over 80 artists in its sprawling, liminal space. Galleries Bortolami, James Cohan, kaufmann repetto, Anton Kern, Andrew Kreps, and kurimanzutto presented artwork from their artists and collections.
Among the featured artists were the NXTHVN Studio Fellows: Adrian Armstrong, Alexandria Couch, Eric Hart Jr., Fidelis Joseph, Jamaal Peterman, Eugene Macki and Alex Puz. Their works were organized organized by Curatorial Fellows Marquita Flowers and Clare Patrick in Double Down, the featured exhibition at The Campus.
The inaugural exhibition was well-attended, with over a thousand art-lovers in attendance. Collectors, gallerists, artists, and connoisseurs mingled in the expansive gardens behind the school, enjoying music by Matthew Higgs and outdoor sculptural installations. Within the building, serpentine corridors opened into classrooms evocative of mini-galleries.
The space can feel like a maze, filled with nooks and crannies to discover. A narrow hallway leads to a secluded classroom, where visitors can watch a Bill Viola video installation. Similarly, one can stand inside a shower stall and watch a video projected onto the wall. The space is surprisingly interactive: you can even pass through what appears to be a deserted restroom in one of the classes, and find yourself emerging in another connected gallery!
Like a mini Art Basel, this exhibition provides a collaborative and dynamic opportunity for cultural exchange. Emerging and under-represented artists are uplifted, simultaneously showcasing their work next to more established artists.
Even at the entrance of The Campus, the positive energy was palpable. Visitors immediately expressed interest in purchasing various works of art; old friends and acquaintances reunited; artists answered questions. New York Magazine was in attendance, taking photographs of attendees for their Summer Look-book feature. In the hustle and bustle of The Campus’ foyer, one point was clear: this was the event to kick off the summer season.
Although it is far from a traditional gallery format, the curators and organizers made it clear that a simple white room is not integral to displaying art. What truly matters is how the space and works interact, the dialogues they inspire, and the extent to which visitors feel welcomed and connected.
What was once an abandoned school building has become a pioneering cultural exemplar of innovation and progress. It is refreshing to see such evolutions in the art world.
The Campus is open to the public through October 27th, 2024. Open hours are Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 5 pm. The address is 341 NY-217 Hudson, NY 12534.