O.K.

This exhibition was the first incarnation of the O.K. project, and across six rooms provided a survey of the history of Kinderhook and its environs in the form of sculptures, artifacts, wall works, murals, videos and collaborative projects.  Focused predominantly on the creative output of the town since the early 1800s, the installation adapted the region’s cultural exports ranging from 19th century phenomena like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the furniture and rituals of The Shakers, and Hudson River School painter Frederic Church’s home Olana to more recent practices such as the women’s craft group Kinderkrafters, local woodworking, and a trailer for Bruce G. Hallenbeck’s unfinished 1980s horror film Cannibal Church.

A multifunctional “Town Hall” was lined with hand-painted signs for various civic groups which might meet there, and its stage was activated with a musical performance of “living paintings” representing the various groups.  Displayed in the theatre’s lobby were hand-drawn posters for an (at the time) hypothetical theatre play called “O.K. – The Musical” designed by 4th and 5th graders at Kinderhook’s Ichabod Crane Elementary School.  Several poster designs were turned into woven blankets, initiating the project O.K. Blankets in which the pieces are sold as limited editions with proceeds going to Kinderhook charities.

Further works touched upon prominent local figures like 8th U.S. President Martin “Old Kinderhook” Van Buren, police corruption whistle-blower Frank Serpico, artist Ellsworth Kelly, and Jason Nastke who was elected mayor of the village of Valatie at the age of 19.  Investigating the construction of local mythology, recreated New York State Historical Markers and a simulated hot-air balloon landing served as entry-ways into Kinderhook’s subconscious.

For more in-depth information, please see the Exhibition Guide and Press Release.