Aug 12 – Nov 19, 2017

Apr 30 – Oct 29, 2017 

The 2017 exhibition presented in Thomas Cole’s New Studio gallery explores the work of the Hudson River School artist, Sanford R. Gifford. Curated by Kevin J. Avery, Senior Research Scholar at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue. Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills explores the artist’s creative process and for the first time brings the original paintings to a venue just a few miles from the sites that inspired them. Photo © Peter Aaron/OTTO

Apr 30 – Nov 19, 2017

Visit The Parlors, an immersive experience in the first floor of the Main House where historic restoration meets multimedia technology.The carefully researched restoration has transformed the first floor of Cole’s home to his original design, as visitors in his day would have experienced it and features recently discovered hand-painted decorative borders by Thomas Cole himself which represent the earliest-known interior decorative painting by an American artist. Photo © Peter Aaron/OTTO

Apr 30 – Nov 19, 2017

Explore Thomas Cole’s working process and ideas through an array of original sketches and paintings made by Cole, alongside the books and objects that inspired him. Discover the pigments and materials he used to realize his influential paintings. This special exhibition is located upstairs in the Main House and is comprised of original objects, ninety percent of which are from the Cole Site collection.

Painting: Diagram of Kontrasts, 1834, Thomas Cole. Courtesy of Collection Richard Sharp.

Free

You’ve seen the paintings, now get out there and see the views. Follow the footsteps of 19th century Hudson River School artist Sanford R. Gifford and trace the origins of America’s first major art movement back to nature. These famous scenes are now on view in the New Studio gallery, but the originals are out there in the wilderness for you to experience.

Free

Join us in celebrating all that the Village of Catskill has to offer on Friday, September 1 and Friday, October 6. Fall First Fridays will include free admission to the historic site, extended hours at local shops within walking distance, and special events including a fashion show, live music, a dance festival, and a local farmers market.

Submissions accepted

Sept 24, 2017 to Feb 24, 2018

The Essay on American Scenery Contest is now open. In 1836, Thomas Cole wrote Essay on American Scenery, reflecting on the beauty of the American landscape and decrying its disappearance at the hands of industrialization. Today, the conflict between preservation and development of our landscapes is more relevant than ever. We invite you to respond to the question,“How is the American landscape changing today?”

Drawing: Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900), Portrait of Thomas Cole, c. 1845, pencil on paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., John Wilmerding Collection

Tues, Oct, 24 

NYC

A reception with cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres followed by remarks by Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser, Ph.D. Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hosted by the Thomas Cole Board of Trustees and Connie Simmons and James Krugman. This is a ticketed event with limited availability.

Painting: Thomas Cole, View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow,  1836. Oil on canvas, 51 ½ x 76 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1908, 08.228.

Sat, Dec 9 

You are cordially invited to a Holiday Gathering in Thomas Cole’s New Studio on Saturday, December 9. Festive libations will be served from 5 to 7 pm in Thomas Cole’s New Studio with dinner to follow at the homes of convivial neighbors. Seating for dinners is extremely limited. Please RSVP by December 1st.

Honorary Co-Chairs Stephen Hannock & Sting

Honorees Elizabeth Kornhauser, The Met & Tim Barringer, Yale

Fri, Mar 9, 2018 

Free Admission

Sun, Sept 24, 1 – 4 pm

The Thomas Cole Site is buzzing and everyone is invited to join in the fun for free on Sunday, September 24^th from 1pm to 4pm, rain or shine. Community day is presented in partnership with the first ever Skywalk Arts Festival at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in collaboration with the Thomas Cole Site and Olana State Historic Site. Guests can explore Thomas Cole’s home and studios, the special exhibitions Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills, and KIKI SMITH / From the Creek, and the immersive installation The Parlors. The event will feature the annual open call exhibition Postcards from the Trail, as well as games, demonstrations, refreshments, and activities for the whole family.

Free Admission

Sun, Aug 20, 10 am – 1 pm

Kids of all ages are invited to the Thomas Cole Site to explore the home and studios of Thomas Cole and to paint the landscapes that captivated him. This event is free and all necessary materials will be provided. Advance reservations are appreciated, but drop-ins on the day of the event are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For questions or reservations contact MConley@thomascole.org.

Dr. Kevin Avery

Sun, Apr 30 at 2 pm

Join Dr. Kevin Avery, Senior Research Scholar at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and curator of the Thomas Cole Site 2017 exhibition “Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills,” to discuss the exhibition featuring paintings by 19th-Century landscape painter Sanford Gifford, whose work was Inspired by Cole.

Image credit: Sanford Gifford, Ledge on South Mountain, in the Catskills, 1861-62. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum

Free admission

Sun, Apr 30 from 11 am – 2 pm

Join us for Opening Day of our 2017 season. The historic site will offer free admission from 11 am to 2 pm. This special event will include the unveiling of The Parlors in the Main House and the opening of the 2017 New Studio exhibition Sanford R. Gifford in the Catskills curated by Kevin Avery, Senior Research Scholar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Image credit: Detail of Thomas Cole’s decorative borders in the East Parlor of the artist’s home. 

Sun, Jan 7, Feb 12, Mar 12 & April 9 at 1 & 3:30 pm

Join us for a sneak preview into the installation of The Parlors, an immersive experience in the newly restored rooms where America’s first major art movement was born. These special tours take place on the second Sunday of each month from January through April on the same days as the Sunday Salons. Opening in May 2017, the Parlors integrates a meticulous historic restoration with interactive audio visual technology to bring to life the two main parlors of Thomas Cole’s home.

Elizabeth Jacks & Alan Wallach

Sun, Jan 8 at 2 pm

In May 2017, the Cole site unveils a project that has been in the making for over a decade, the Parlors Project. Join Elizabeth Jacks, Executive Director of the Cole site and Alan Wallach, Ralph H. Wark Professor of Art and Art History and Professor of American Studies Emeritus at the College of William and Mary, for a sneak preview of this highly innovative installation.

August through October 2016

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is pleased to announce the start of a new series of contemporary installations entitled OPEN HOUSE: Contemporary Art in Conversation with Cole, and the inaugural exhibition, Jason Middlebrook: Nature Builds / We Cover. The artworks are installed throughout the Main House as well as outside on the lawn.