On September 13, 2019, two exhibitions opened at Hudson River Museum, in Yonkers, New York. “Another Way of Looking at Love” presented large-format photographs, and fine-press books by Janelle Lynch. James McElhinney: Discover the Hudson Anew paired my journal-paintings, prints and limited-edition books with works by historic artists, along with a display of material culture related to 19th-century expeditionary art. In November, our exhibitions were joined by “Thomas Cole’s Refrain: Paintings of Catskill Creek”, an exhibition curated by Vassar College emeritus professor Daniel Peck that first opened at Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York. On February 17, 2020, all three shows had closed. I sat down with Laura Vookles, chair of the curatorial department at Hudson River Museum, to explore the genesis of these exhibitions, and her decision to present them together
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