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The Shaker Heritage Society has officially opened our grounds to visionary artists, inviting them to harness the potential of our existing structures and breathe new life into the Shaker site.

By welcoming artists to reimagine and transform these spaces, we aim to infuse our surroundings with creativity and inspiration, offering visitors a truly enriched experience. This initiative provides artists with a unique canvas for their expression and allows visitors to engage with art in unexpected and captivating ways.

As the artists weave their innovative narratives into the fabric of the Church Family grounds, we foster a deeper connection between art, architecture, and the human spirit.

Poughkeepsie-based artist Julia Whitney Barnes photographed and collected specimens from over 150 plants growing in the Shaker Heritage herb garden. The garden (which reflects the Shakers’ important herbal medicine industry) and historic Shaker ‘gift’ or ‘spirit’ drawings are the inspiration and source imagery for a site-specific installation at the Shaker Heritage 1856 Drying House and a companion exhibit of prints on view at the Albany Airport. Cyanotypes are installed on all four exterior walls of the Drying House and on two interior walls (the interior is only accessible when the museum is open).

The exhibit at Shaker Heritage Society was funded by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and will be on display through Summer, 2023. The exhibit at the Albany Airport will be on view for several years.

These murals by artist Phoebe Rotter reflect the essential contributions of Shaker women to their communities. Shakers believed that work was itself a form of worship to their creator. An act as simple as sweeping the floor could thus reflect both physical and spiritual devotion.

During the Era of Manifestations in the 1830’s, women also created and exchanged finely illustrated “gift drawings”. These divinely-inspired works illustrated and narrated the unique spiritual insights and visions of Shaker women.

“My hope is to bridge the careful, effortful precision of Shaker craft with my own contemporary practice, which centers meticulous hand-drawn installation. My hands show up in the work in both process and product, painted alongside the hands of Shaker women who labored at the Watervliet Washhouse. This mural occupies a space between nature and a built environment, borrowing images from each.”

– Phoebe Rotter

About Albany Center Gallery

Albany Center Gallery (ACG) is delighted to have worked with artist Phoebe Rotter and Shaker Heritage Society to bring these murals to life that highlight important values to the Shaker community. Our mission is to collaborate with community members and local artists to bring more art into public spaces. We also host exhibitions, pop-up shows, and youth art programs throughout the year.

We would like to thank Phoebe for the impact that this work will create and further move the conversation on how art and artists can be powerful in ways that connect us all as a community for years to come. ACG will strive to create more opportunities for artists and make art more accessible to everyone.

Creation of this artwork was funded by a Legislative Initiative Grant courtesy of Assemblymember Phil Steck and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.