An exhibition featuring nature-based artwork created by talented artists from around the world will open at the New York State Museum on April 19, 2014. Focus on Nature XIII: Natural and Cultural History Illustration showcases 91 natural and cultural history illustrations from 71 artists.

Open through January 4, 2015 in Photography Gallery, this biennial exhibition has continued to grow in both scope and reputation. This year's artwork was selected from 379 entries submitted by 172 artists. Artists represented this year are from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America. A list of the featured artists is available here: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/fon/exhibitions/fon13/artists.pdf.

"Focus on Nature continues to be a popular exhibition and the Board of Regents and the State Museum are proud to again display illustrations created by artists from around the world," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "The selected works this year are extraordinary and are brilliant examples of illustrations of the natural world by a group of very accomplished artists."

The exhibition's goal is to demonstrate the important role illustration has in natural science research and education and to display images of nature that people might not otherwise be able to experience. A five-member jury of artists and scientists selected the artwork included in the exhibition based on the illustration's scientific accuracy and uniqueness, educational value and artistic quality.

The subjects represented in the exhibition are diverse, ranging from those only found in the artists' home countries, to those that have a worldwide distribution. The exhibition features illustrations of extinct creatures such as the Titanosaur by Chilean artist Mauricio Alvarez Abel and the Kosmoceratops by New York artist James Gurney, to newly discovered and named organisms such as the Principe Thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus) and Coelogyne species. A special feature of this year's exhibition is a 3-D illustration of Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) by Swiss artist Livia Maria Enderli. This reconstruction of a skull from an archaeological site in Uzbekistan found in 1938 uses the latest technology available to artists and scientists.

More information about Focus on Nature can be found at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/fon/. Photos from the exhibit are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/fon/. 

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition returns to the New York State Museum May 31, showcasing artwork created by SUNY’s talented student artists from across New York State.

Open through August 31, 2014, the exhibition features artworks chosen by individual art departments across SUNY’s campuses. The exhibition includes 69 artworks selected from 295 submissions.  The exhibition includes drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and digitally produced works.

A list of the artists featured in the exhibition is available at the following link: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/SUNY/NYSM-SUNY2014.pdf.

Three student artists will receive $1,000 scholarships. Honorable Mention awards of $500 will be given to four additional students. SUNY will announce the awardees in June.

“The Board of Regents understands the importance of art education," New York State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. said.  "The Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition at the State Museum speaks volumes of the quality of artwork created by talented SUNY students and also highlights the gifted faculty who teach in the arts. And now thousands of New Yorkers will have the opportunity to view these impressive pieces of art over the next few months.”

“We are deeply proud to have our Best of SUNY art exhibition on display at the New York State Museum again this year,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Showcasing our top student works from the past year in this annual exhibit has become a must-see attraction for those who live in Albany as well as the Museum’s many visitors from across the state and nation. Congratulations to all of this year’s contributors.”

“The New York State Museum is pleased to once again host the Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition,” said State Museum Director Mark Schaming.  “Each year a new group of talented student artists create diverse artwork that reflects the superior art education opportunities at SUNY campuses across the state.  This exhibition is a great tribute to the artists, faculty and families across the state who are dedicated to a public education in the visual arts.”

The SUNY student art shows were initiated in 2002 so that the work of SUNY’s most talented student artists would be seen by a wider audience.  SUNY student art is also on display year-round at State University Plaza in Albany, SUNY Global Center in New York City, and Governor Cuomo’s Washington, DC office. 

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/SUNY/.  

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 463,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs, and more than 1.8 million NYS citizens in professional development and personal enrichment programs, on 64 college and university campuses, and online through Open SUNY. There are nearly 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit SUNY.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will display two historical vehicles at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY, August 21 – September 1, 2014. The two vehicles, a 1932 Packard Phaeton and a 1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine, were used by New York Governors Franklin D. Roosevelt and Nelson A. Rockefeller, respectively.

"The Board of Regents and the New York State Museum are honored to exhibit two historical vehicles from the Museum's collections at the Great New York State Fair," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "For the first time at the State Fair, thousands of New Yorkers will have the opportunity to see these two historical cars that transported Governors Roosevelt and Rockefeller across New York State."

The 1932 Packard Phaeton was purchased in 1932 by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt for his use in Albany. When Roosevelt was elected to the Presidency, the vehicle became part of the state fleet. Though kept in running condition, it was rarely used after 1942 when Governor Thomas Dewey acquired a Cadillac. In 1982, Governor Hugh Carey transported Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands in the Packard when they visited Albany.

The 1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine was placed into service for Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller on March 6, 1967. Rockefeller privately purchased an identical vehicle for his use while in New York City. Its amenities included air conditioning, radio, cassette player and television receiver, as well as a sliding window for privacy. The car was used by succeeding governors until 1988. 

Earlier this year, both vehicles were on display at the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The display at the State Fair will mark the second time both vehicles are on display together outside of Albany, NY. 

Photos of the 1932 Packard Phaeton and the 1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine are available at:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/autoshow/. An online webpage with information about the two vehicles is available here: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/virtual/exhibits/vehicles/

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

Two exhibitions featuring New York State plant fossils and specimens of the extinct passenger pigeon will open at the New York State Museum on August 30, 2014. The Binghamton University Paleobotany Collection and The Passenger Pigeon: From Billions to Zero will be the Museum's newest exhibitions located in the New York Discoveries area. 

"We're eager to open two new long-term exhibitions for our visitors," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "The Board of Regents and the State Museum are grateful for Binghamton University's donation of their significant paleobotany collection. We have organized an exhibition to display this impressive collection of fossils to the people of New York State. The passenger pigeon is also an important New York story; the exhibition describes how the once-popular passenger pigeon went from a population of billions to zero."

In 2013, the New York State Museum acquired Binghamton University's paleobotany collection containing thousands of plant fossils. In conjunction with the Museum's previous holdings, it is the largest Middle Devonian plant fossil collection in North America. While most of the collection derives from New York, some fossils are from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Canada, and Belgium. The Binghamton University Paleobotany Collection showcases this important collection that allows scientists to learn more about how the diversification of plants caused significant changes in Earth's atmosphere over 350 million years ago. The exhibition will feature fourteen plant fossils from the collection. 

Two hundred years ago, the passenger pigeon was the most common bird in North America. Because they were so abundant, passenger pigeons were an important food source for humans for thousands of years. In the mid-1800s, over-hunting and habitat destruction led to a rapid decline in the passenger pigeon population. On September 1, 1914, the last passenger pigeon died. The Passenger Pigeon: From Billions to Zero marks the 100 year anniversary of the extinction of this once common bird. The exhibition will provide visitors a rare opportunity to see passenger pigeon specimens and related artifacts from the Museum's biology and history collections. 

Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, Curator of Birds at the New York State Museum, will present a free lecture, "The Passenger Pigeon: Icon of Extinction" on Sunday, September 28 at 1:00 PM in the Huxley Theater. "Only a few generations ago passenger pigeons were so numerous no one could have imagined they would become extinct." said Dr. Kirchman. "By commemorating the centennial of the passenger pigeon extinction with an exhibition and free public programs, we hope to remind visitors how over-exploitation of natural resources can lead to permanent loss of biodiversity."

Photos from The Binghamton University Paleobotany Collection are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/paleobotany/. Photos from The Passenger Pigeon: From Billions to Zero are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/pigeon/. 

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

A new exhibition that honors those lost in the September 11 World Trade Center attacks will open on September 11, 2014 at the New York State Museum, a program of the New York State Education Department. The Family Room at One Liberty Plaza – World Trade Center Site includes personal remembrances, photographs, and tributes from the Family Room at the World Trade Center site. The Family Room was established as a private place for families to remember their loved ones killed in the 2001 attacks. Contents from the Family Room were transferred this summer to the State Museum.

"America suffered tremendous loss on September 11, 2001," said Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch. "The family members of those lost at the World Trade Center have remembered and honored their loved ones at a private Family Room for over a decade. The Board of Regents and the State Museum are humbled to preserve the Family Room's personal remembrances and tributes for future generations. We consider ourselves a temporary home. We're going to use this opportunity to find a permanent place closer to ground zero that would be of significance to the families." 

"History is sometimes written in tears. Thanks to the dedicated family members who worked with us to preserve the memory and history of the Family Room, we can share that history with all of New York," said State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. "We are honored to be entrusted with the thousands of personal memorials and tributes from the Family Room. The exhibition at the State Museum will give visitors a deeper understanding of the ongoing impact of September 11 and the immense grief families experienced in the days, months, and years following the attacks."

"It is an honor to serve as the permanent repository of the Family Room's precious legacy," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "The families of those lost on September 11 have allowed us into this very personal place for the first time. The countless personal photos and reflections speak to the enormous loss that the families have experienced since that tragic day."

Soon after September 11, 2001, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) recognized the need for a private space near the World Trade Center site for families to grieve and remember their loved ones. A room adjacent to the LMDC offices on the 20th floor of One Liberty Plaza was designated as the Family Room, which overlooked the World Trade Center site, and was closed to the media and the public. Over the past 13 years, family members installed thousands of photographs, notes, tributes and other personal objects in remembrance of their loved ones. 

In 2014, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened and a new family space was established. Most of the original Family Room's contents have been transferred to the New York State Museum with the cooperation of family members who are dedicated to preserving the memory and history of this special room. 

The exhibition includes artifacts from the Family Room, quotes from family members, large photographs of the room, and a visitor-operated digital program that includes full 360-degree images of the Family Room.

More information about the exhibition is available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/familyroom/. Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/familyroom/.
 

NOTE: Attached are quotes from family members who visited the Family Room at One Liberty Plaza. 

The State Museum is the nation's largest repository of artifacts recovered from the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. Artifacts are rotated through the Museum's permanent World Trade Center exhibition, which opened in September 2002. The Museum also supports other institutions nationwide and around the world with their World Trade Center-related exhibitions. 

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

Below are quotes from family members who visited the Family Room at One Liberty Plaza:

"For so many years the Family Room was all we had. Many of us had no remains of our loved ones. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum were not yet open, and the Family Room became a place of pilgrimage, tribute, quiet reflection and pride—it was our place to grieve, to connect to our loved ones. Through years of visits and tributes, it grew organically, and over time, the space was infused with a power and sacredness." – Anthony Gardner, brother of Harvey Joseph Gardner III (1 WTC, 83rd Floor) and Founding Director of The September 11th Education Trust.

"The Family Room was a place where we could collectively, as family members, memorialize our loved ones and express in some small way the grief we were feeling and the love we had for those we lost so senselessly on 9/11. Whenever I visited the Family Room, I would always go to my sister's picture to see her beautiful face and to think about how much I miss her. While there I would make sure to also look at all the faces of the people whose pictures hung on the wall. Over time those faces became so familiar to me and I was able to connect with them by seeing the personal tributes their families left for them and hoped families visiting the room felt that same connection to my sister, Lorraine." – Patricia Reilly, sister of Lorraine Mary Greene Lee.

"My visits to the room were not long, 15 minutes or so were about all I could absorb. On every visit I was always taken aback by the breadth and the depth of 9/11 as a tragedy; raw emotion and surreal reality were the norm. It became such that there was no longer room to leave a memento of remembrance for my husband, so on my visits I would sit and write a short letter to him in the journal book. I would cry in the elevator up to the Family Room, while I was in the room, and then in the elevator down to the lobby. These tears flowed without any urging, it was just what happened and I suppose will always happen when I am surrounded by and remember such personal sorrow. This room was as difficult for me to enter as it was to leave and here's the reason why. Inside the room I found neither peace nor justice and I found even less outside of the room. I would describe this room as an infinite collection and compilation of respectful grief, contained anger, exacting despair, fleeting hope and traumatic, somber reflections around unwarranted and unjustified death." – Lynn S. McGuinn, wife of Francis Noel McGuinn.

"I never put up a missing flyer of Gary. I knew he was dead. I didn't want to return to the site. It was the dedication of the Family Room at One Liberty Plaza that brought me downtown for the first time, after having worked in the World Trade Center for so many years. You will not see a picture of my 36 year old brother in the Family Room. It was never there. That did not however stop me from going to that organically formed room of love, loss and remembrance countless times. By sharing our Family Room with you we share a piece of ourselves. We share our love for those we lost. We entrust you to share in their memory." – Edie Lutnick, sister of Gary Lutnick (Cantor Fitzgerald, 104th Floor).

"Part of my job, while working at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, was taking care of the Family Room. It was an extremely emotional, yet gratifying task. Sometimes I would sit alone in the room, at the end of my day, switch off the lights, breathe in the scent of fresh flowers, and I swear I could feel the presence of angels among me. This room, created by and for family members, will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was truly a memorial and a tribute to my brother John and all our unforgettable loved ones." – Anthoula Katsimatides, sister of John Katsimatides. 

"Al and I came to the family room often in the early days. We would look out at the site and see the "progress." What was so special about this room is that it was away from everyone. It was a quiet space filled with the faces of those who were "lost." Everyone in the room had the same pain so crying and sadness was OK because we all felt the same. We continued to come for many years. The pictures increased and each time we came we looked at different pictures. In spite of the overwhelming sadness we were comforted and felt safe in this room. Our journey to healing began here and we feel sad that the room is no more." – Retired Deputy Chief Alexander and Maureen Santora, parents of firefighter Christopher A. Santora, Engine 54. 

"The Family Room space was like no other. The moment you entered you were transported back to that time. It was a singular intersection where horrific tragedy and boundless caring and love meet. Each visit was a new experience and familiar all at once. Selectively visited, I always found it comforting to be there. Somehow, it brought me closer to Glenn, and all those lost, peaceful souls. And that is good." – Jay S. Winuk, brother of Glenn J. Winuk, Attorney and Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, 9/11 Rescuer. Jay Winuk is a co-founder of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The New York State Museum will open a new exhibition featuring the work of New York artist Eugene Speicher on October 18, 2014. Along His Own Lines: A Retrospective of New York Realist Eugene Speicher explores Speicher's diverse art career ranging from portraits to still life to landscape.

On display in West Gallery through March 22, 2015, the exhibition features more than 70 artworks by Speicher, demonstrating his lengthy and successful art career. The exhibition is organized by the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at State University of New York at New Paltz. 

"The Board of Regents and the State Museum are committed to partnering with institutions across New York to bring great collections to Albany," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming."We are pleased to be a venue for the work of Eugene Speicher, an important American artist who, through his life's work in New York State, has left an enduring impact on the art world of the twentieth century." 

Born in Buffalo, NY, Speicher first garnered national recognition in the 1910s for his incisive portraits of actors, artists, and friends. Speicher's portraits were highly sought after by collectors and prominent museums and he developed a national reputation for portraiture. At the height of his success in the mid-1920s, Speicher largely abandoned commissioned portraiture and instead chose to paint more personal subjects, mainly flower still lifes, landscapes, and figurative compositions.

From 1912 and through the 1940s, Speicher received many significant awards and his work was acquired by major art museums for their permanent collections. Today, Eugene Speicher is best remembered as a New York realist associated with Robert Henri, George Bellows, and Leon Kroll, all of whom were involved with the Woodstock art colony.

The New York State Museum will host a public opening reception for the exhibition on Saturday, October 18, 2014. Light refreshments will be served at 1:00 PM, followed by a tour of the exhibition by curator Valerie Ann Leeds at 2:00 PM. The reception is open to the public; no RSVP required. 

Major lenders for this exhibition include the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Whitney Museum of American Art; American Academy of Arts and Letters; National Academy Museum; Woodstock Artists Association and Museum; and Arthur A. Anderson. 

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/speicher/. 

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website. 

The New York State Museum will celebrate New York State History Month in November with a variety of free, public programs for children, families and adults. The Museum will also open a new exhibition that explores the history of the Shaker community on November 15, The Shakers: America's Quiet Revolutionaries.

"November is New York State History Month," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "The Board of Regents and the State Museum understand the importance of history education. New York's history is central to American history. Across the State and at the State Museum, New Yorkers can learn about the Empire State's history at our wonderful museums and educational institutions. From talks with historians to children's educational activities, there's a free history program for everyone, everywhere in New York."

"New York State History Month is a time for all New Yorkers to appreciate the importance of the Empire State's history and visit some of the extraordinary cultural institutions and historic sites throughout New York," said New York State Historian Robert Weible.

The Museum has created a webpage to celebrate New York State History Month. The website features a list of history programs and statewide history organizations, educational resources, and a "New York Minutes" feature which includes a New York State history fact of the day for every day in November.

Below is a schedule of free programs at the Museum to celebrate New York State History Month, including a special presentation by Harold Holzer, one of the county's leading authorities on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. Holzer will speak about the Civil War, his new book on President Lincoln, and the catalog book for the State Museum's 2012 award-winning Civil War exhibition. For more information about any of the programs below, visit New York State History Month.

American Experience: The Rise and Fall of Penn Station
Film Screening, November 2, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Lasting Impact: The Waterford Flight
Lecture, November 12, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Behind the Scenes Tour: State Museum Shaker Collection
Tour, November 15, 1:00 PM (pre-registration is required, call 518-474-0575)

Cities Under Pressure: How the Great Migration Affected Upstate New York
Lecture, November 19, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

New York State's Great Places and Spaces
Family Program, November 22, 12:00 – 4:00 PM

Gallery Tour of The Shakers: America's Quiet Revolutionaries
Tour, November 22, 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Civil War History: Special Presentation by Harold Holzer and Double Book Signing
Lecture and Book Signing, November 24, 7:00 PM

Celebrating 100 Years of the New York State Museum's Carousel
Family Program, November 29, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Preserving the Carousel: The History and Conservation of the Museum's Carousel
Lecture, November 29, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will open a new major exhibition about the history and culture of the Shakers on November 15, 2014. The Shakers: America's Quiet Revolutionaries will feature over 150 historic images and nearly 200 Shaker artifacts, including artifacts from three Shaker historical sites: the Shaker Heritage Society, Hancock Shaker Village and the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon.

Open through March 6, 2016, the 7,000 square foot exhibition explores the Shakers as one of the most significant and influential communal religious groups in American history. A two-minute video trailer for the exhibition is available.

"The Board of Regents and the New York State Museum are committed to collaborating with institutions across the state to bring great collections to Albany. That's why we have partnered with three significant Shaker historical sites to bring State Museum visitors a comprehensive exhibition about the people, history and culture of the Shakers," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "For the first time, visitors will not only find Shaker artifacts from the State Museum's own collections, but also unique artifacts from the Shaker Heritage Society, Hancock Shaker Village and the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon. "This expansive exhibition, in addition to a variety of public educational programs and online resources, offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the history and lasting influence of the Shakers."

In the late 1700s, the Shakers sought religious freedom in America, but their unique culture and spiritual practices set them apart from society. Their devotional routines as well as their product innovations and views towards gender equality seemed "revolutionary".

Thematically divided into six areas, the exhibition shows how the Shakers' unique model of an equal society challenged the norms of the "outside world":

Settlement in America, 1774–1787 – explores the beginnings of the Shaker society, including their journey to America and their establishment at Niskayuna (Albany), Mother Ann Lee's missionary travels, and the efforts of the first Shakers to grow their numbers and establish the first communities.

Shaker Theology and Religious Practice – explores the central beliefs of the Shakers. Drawing upon the words of the Shakers themselves, visitors will learn how Shakers worship not only within the Meetinghouse, but through tasks performed in their everyday lives.

Spreading the Faith, Keeping Union – documents the first attempt to replicate the Shaker communities at Watervliet and Mount Lebanon (later expanding to 19 major communities nationwide).

Shaker Made: Agriculture and Industry – highlights four major industries of the Shakers: broom making, garden seeds, medicines and chairs. This section also explores how the Shakers used their products and reputation for honest business practices to present a "brand" to potential converts.

Comfortable Shaker Home: Being a Shaker – explores the concept of family, as defined by the Shakers, including the care of children, the elderly and the disabled, as well as gender relations.

Enduring Design: The Shaker Influence on Design – shows how Shaker design influenced artists and designers around the world up through the present day.

The exhibition is presented by the New York State Museum in collaboration with the Shaker Heritage Society, Hancock Shaker Village, Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon, the New York State Library and the New York State Archives. Additional support for the exhibition is provided by the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau and RBC Wealth Management.

The State Museum is planning a variety of programs to complement the exhibition, including lectures, guided tours and educational activities for children and families. More information about the exhibition can be found here:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/shakers/. Photos of artifacts from the exhibition are available here: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/shakers/.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

Visitors can shop at more than 60 "made in New York" food and beverage vendors at the New York State Museum's Taste NY Holiday Expo on Sunday, December 7, 11:00am – 4:30pm. Admission is $5 (cash only); children ages 12 and under are free.

Over 60 vendors will offer samples and sales of chocolates; cheese; maple and apple products; hand-crafted beer, wine and spirits; and other edible gifts. All participating vendors produce their products in New York State. There will also be cooking and tasting demonstrations, children's activities, and a chocolate fountain station, courtesy of We Do Fondue and Price Chopper.

A full schedule of activities is below:
12:00pm – 4:30pm, Display: Schenectady County Historical Society's Mabee Farms presents: "Colonial Cuisine and Brewing". 
12:00 – 4:30pm, Display: Empire State Eats! New York State Foodways Project
12:00, 1:00 and 2:00pm sessions, Children's Activity: Edible Aliens. Limit of 20 per session.
12:00pm, Tasting Demo: Sample New York State Cheeses with the Honest Weight Food Co-op
1:00pm, Cooking Demonstration: Holiday Cooking with Chef Michael Lapi
2:00pm, Cooking Demonstration: Holiday Cooking with Chef Steve Kerzner
2:00pm – 4:00pm, Display: Peter Rose presents her new book, "Delicious December", along with an array of artifacts reflecting Dutch New York's contributions to our American holiday traditions.
3:00pm, Information Session: Field Goods: Fresh Foods from Small Farms

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival at the Empire State Plaza will also be held on December 7, 1:00 – 8:00pm.

For more information, including a list of participating vendors, visit:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/programs/tasteNY/.

Taste NY is an initiative that highlights the quality, diversity, and economic impact of New York's food and beverage industry. Taste NY provides an opportunity for New York growers and producers to receive increased exposure of their products to consumers, restaurateurs, retailers, wholesalers, and distributors.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will open a new exhibition featuring contemporary Native American artwork on December 13, 2014. Represent: Contemporary Native American Art features twenty-one artworks created by eighteen artists from Native American Nations in New York State.

On display in Crossroads Gallery through September 20, 2015, the exhibition features a variety of contemporary Native American artwork. From baskets and beadwork to modern art, the artwork celebrates the traditional roots of Native American artistry through modern expression.

“This year the State Museum acquired twenty-one artworks created by Native American artists throughout the state to add to our permanent collection,” said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. “The Museum worked with Native American communities to collect contemporary works of art that represent the culture, history and artistic direction of these talented artists. Now we are pleased to premiere this important collection at the State Museum.”

The Board of Regents and the State Museum are dedicated to educating New Yorkers and visitors to the State Museum about the State’s history. In addition to the exhibition, there will be a variety of free educational programs about Native American art throughout the run of the exhibition. The first family program, “Family Fun Day: Native Peoples Art”, will be held on Saturday, December 20 from 1:00 – 4:00pm.

The Museum will also host a public opening reception for the exhibition on Sunday, December 14, 1:00 – 3:00pm. Light refreshments will be served. The reception is open to the public; no RSVP required.

The artists and their work include:

David Fadden, Mohawk
At the Social, Acrylic on canvas

Ronni-leigh Goeman, Onondaga, and Stonehorse Goeman, Tonawanda Seneca
Blue Heron with Baby basket, Black ash, sweet grass, buffalo horn, moose hair and antler

Tony Gonyea, Onondaga
Two-Row Wampum Belt, Ceramic beads, deerskin, and sinew

Tom Huff, Seneca-Cayuga
Ancestors/Tree of Life, Brazilian soapstone with walnut base

Mary Jacobs, Seneca
Beaded Velvet New Age Hat, Velvet, glass beads, and satin ribbon

David Bunn Martine, Chiricahua Apache-Shinnecock/Mohawk
Mandush, Shinnecock Sachem of the 17th century, Acrylic on canvas

Towanna Miller, Mohawk
Residential School, Acrylic on canvas

Penelope Minner, Seneca
Corn Wash, Market, and Tote/Purse Baskets, Black ash

Roger Perkins, Mohawk
Bear Clan, Digital print, archival ink on canvas 
I Pop Arted Tonto, Digital print, archival ink on canvas

Bryan Printup, Tuscarora
Ring Bearer Cushion, Velvet, glass beads

Sheila Ransom, Mohawk
Bird’s Beak Fancy Basket, Black ash and sweet grass

Natasha Smoke Santiago, Mohawk
Emerging Corn, Densite plastic, acrylic and cornhusk

Alyssa Schmidt, Seneca
Beaded Hair Ornament and Earrings, Glass beads, fabric

Antoinette Scott, Seneca
Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, and Squash, Cornhusk, glass beads, cotton fabric

Samuel Thomas, Lower Cayuga
Bandolier Bag, Wool and cotton, glass beads, 14 karat gold beads, and satin ribbon

Carson Waterman, Seneca
Man with Gustowets, Acrylic on canvas

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2014/represent/.
 

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will open a new exhibition featuring Shaker photographs on February 14, 2015. A Promising Venture: Shaker Photographs from the WPA features the photography of Noel Vicentini and documents Shaker sites, architecture, craft and people.

On display in Photography Gallery through December 31, 2015, the exhibition is organized by Hancock Shaker Village and features more than 100 photographs. This exhibition complements the State Museum’s 7,000 square-foot exhibition, The Shakers: America’s Quiet Revolutionaries, which explores the history and culture of the Shakers.

"We are pleased to be a venue for this impressive collection of Shaker WPA photographs," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "Vicentini's photographs capture the definitive aesthetic of the Shakers and are a great companion to the State Museum’s major Shaker exhibition now on view. The Board of Regents and the State Museum are grateful to Hancock Shaker Village for organizing this remarkable exhibition."

During the Great Depression, the United States Government established the Works Progress Administration (WPA), including the Federal Art Project, to put Americans back to work. The Index of American Design, a division of the Federal Art Project, grew out of a desire to document and preserve the nation’s artistic heritage. Shaker design fit perfectly into this program, a truly American aesthetic worthy of recognition.

Noel A. Vicentini and his assistant, George Herlick, were two of many artists sent to document the Shakers during the summer of 1936. His images captured the Shaker villages during a time of decline. Vicentini’s photographs helped to inspire a national design aesthetic. His images stand on their own as works of fine art, beautiful scenes of form and design, yet they also tell a story about Shaker history and culture during a time of great change.

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/shakersWPA/.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will open a special exhibition honoring two World War I Army Sergeants from New York State who will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor on June 2, 2015. Sergeant Henry Johnson and Sergeant William Shemin will receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, in a White House ceremony led by President Barack Obama.

On display in the Main Lobby through June 8, 2015, The Battle for Henry Johnson and A Wrong Made Right explores Johnson and Shemin’s heroic actions as World War I soldiers as well as the public efforts to officially recognize their bravery decades after their deaths. The exhibition also features photographs of Johnson and Shemin as well as World War I era artifacts.

“The State Museum is proud to commemorate Sergeant Henry Johnson and Sergeant William Shemin’s award of the Medal of Honor as New York State and the nation celebrate two great American soldiers,” said New York State Museum Director Mark Schaming. “The Medal of Honor formally recognizes Johnson and Shemin’s great courage and is an important moment in American and New York State history.”

Sergeant Henry Johnson
On the night of May 14, 1918, Henry Johnson and fellow soldier Needham Roberts were at a listening outpost in No Man's Land to detect enemy movements when they were attacked by a German raiding party. Roberts was quickly incapacitated, but he continued to hand grenades to a wounded Johnson. The Germans attempted to drag Roberts back to their trenches, but Johnson pursued them. Firing his rifle until it jammed and then using it as a club until it broke, Johnson drew a bolo knife and continued to fight. After reinforcements arrived, Johnson collapsed from twenty-one wounds.

Although Johnson’s heroism was well-publicized immediately after his homecoming, the fanfare surrounding him quickly disappeared. He was unable to collect any benefits due to him as a wounded veteran despite ample evidence of those wounds. He died on July 10, 1929 at the age of 32 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The racial climate in the nation at the time also meant that official recognition of Johnson’s bravery would not be forthcoming. In 1996 Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart – an award presented to every American service man or woman wounded in combat. In 2002, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor. President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Henry Johnson in a White House ceremony on June 2, 2015.

Sergeant William Shemin
In the summer of 1918, American and other Allied forces launched attacks on German fortifications in the Aisne-Marne region of France. Among the Americans involved in the fighting was Sergeant William Shemin. During combat operations near the Vesle River from August 7-9, 1918, Sergeant Shemin and the 4th Division encountered stiff German resistance as they attempted to secure Allied gains from the Aisne-Marne Offensive.

During the fighting, William Shemin left the cover of his platoon's trench and crossed open space, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire to rescue three wounded soldiers. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers of the unit were killed or wounded, Sergeant Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until he was wounded August 9.

For his actions, Sergeant William Shemin received the Purple Heart and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, this nation’s second-highest award for valor, in 1919. The heroism that Shemin displayed was considered by many, including Jim Pritchard, one of the three soldiers rescued by William Shemin, to be worthy of the Medal of Honor. Pritchard confided to Shemin’s daughter that he believed the reason her father had not received the honor he had earned was due to his Jewish heritage. President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Sergeant William Shemin in a White House ceremony on June 2, 2015.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition returns to the New York State Museum on June 6, 2015. The annual exhibition showcases artwork created by SUNY’s talented student artists from across New York State.

Open through September 6, 2015, the exhibition features artworks chosen by individual art departments across SUNY’s campuses. The exhibition includes 84 artworks selected from over 300 submissions. The exhibition includes drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and digitally produced works.

A list of the artists featured in the exhibition is available at the following link:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/SUNY/. Three student artists will receive $1,000 scholarships. Honorable Mention awards of $500 will be given to four additional students. SUNY will announce the awardees in June.

“The New York State Museum is an ideal location for the outstanding student works included in the annual Best of SUNY art exhibition,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “This year’s pieces are breathtaking and imaginative, and they come to us from students at campuses across the State. We are proud to showcase their work here in the heart of New York’s capital city, where the museum attracts visitors from throughout state and the country. Congratulations to all of our student artists.”

“The Board of Regents and the State Museum recognize the importance of visual arts in higher education, which is why we are honored to once again host the Best of SUNY Student Art exhibition,” said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. “The quality and diversity of the artwork on display is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and talent of SUNY art students and deserves to be shared with the public. We’re pleased that Museum visitors will have the opportunity to view these impressive artworks over the next several months.”

The SUNY student art shows were initiated in 2002 as a platform for the work of SUNY’s most talented student artists to be seen by a wider audience. SUNY student art is also on display year-round at State University Plaza in Albany, SUNY Global Center in New York City, and Governor Cuomo’s Washington, DC office. 

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/SUNY/.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 463,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs, and more than 1.8 million NYS citizens in professional development and personal enrichment programs, on 64 college and university campuses, and online through Open SUNY. There are nearly 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit SUNY.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Board of Regents today reviewed a multi-year renovation plan for the New York State Museum's exhibition galleries. The master plan calls for 35,000 square feet of new exhibitions, a changeable wall system and new interactive technology and media. A full master plan of the renovation project, including artist renderings and floor plans, is available here:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/information/aboutus/renewal.html.

"The New York State Museum is an educational treasure for all New Yorkers," said New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch. "The renovated galleries will tell the stories of New York State's history in ways they have never been told before. New York State is the most important state in the nation – historically, scientifically and culturally. And the Museum's new exhibition galleries will tell that story using our own world-class collections and the extraordinary collections of museums across the state." 

The master plan unveiled today outlines the vision and goals for the new galleries and the overall approach for the renovation project. The goal of the renovation is to share New York State's natural, cultural and human history in an integrated, relevant, and memorable way. New exhibitions will link to existing exhibitions, such as the World Trade Center exhibition, the Cohoes Mastodon and Native Peoples of New York Hall.

The new galleries will be developed under a conceptual approach of "New York Stories" – with every exhibition telling the stories of the state in a diverse and compelling way. The new galleries will address the following themes:

A State of Change: demonstrates New York State's geographic and geological change through natural and human impact.

Politics and Prose: presents New York State as a place of debate, dialogue and documentation.

Emergence of a State: defines New York State through its people, places and events.

Culture, Community and Context: explores New York State's people, cities, and culture through topics such as art, music, architecture and beliefs.

New York in 100 Objects: an exhibition of 100 objects, including objects borrowed from museums across the state, that represents the history of New York.

"The State Museum master plan provides a vision for revitalizing areas of the Museum and improving visitor experience," said Regent Roger Tilles, Chair of the Regents Committee on Cultural Education. "The new exhibitions will integrate stories of science, history and culture and deliver an outstanding educational experience for all visitors – from children to adults."

"Every year, the New York State Museum attracts and educates hundreds of thousands of visitors, including tens of thousands of students across the state," said Acting State Education Commissioner Beth Berlin. "The Museum is embarking on a multi-year renovation project that will refresh existing exhibitions and create new galleries. Those new exhibitions and galleries will give visitors a renewed experience at the Museum. Every visitor will leave with a greater understanding of the natural, cultural and human history of the Empire State."

"For nearly 180 years, the New York State Museum has been a symbol of inquiry, discovery and education for all New Yorkers," said New York State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "Today, we are excited to unveil our master plan and begin an important renovation project that will introduce new and diverse stories never told before and preserve New York's rich historical, cultural and scientific legacies. We thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for the funding for this important project that will enhance visitor experience at the Museum."

The renovation is funded through a $14 million New York State capital bond item. With the master plan complete, the next stage is the exhibition design process. The renovation is expected to occur over a four-year timeline and will be completed in multiple phases. The Museum will remain open throughout the project, although certain gallery spaces will be closed temporarily while undergoing renovation. 

The Museum encourages the public to participate in the renovation project by submitting their suggestions and feedback to museuminfo@nysed.gov. In addition, the Museum will provide regular project updates through the Museum's website, social media accounts, and email newsletter.

Artist renderings are available for download here:
http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/renewal/.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Board of Regents has appointed Dr. Lisa Amati as New York State Paleontologist. As State Paleontologist, Dr. Amati is responsible for curating the New York State Museum's paleontology collection, conducting paleontological field and laboratory research, overseeing the development of research grants and participating in the development of public and educational programs.

"Dr. Lisa Amati is a well-respected paleontologist and experienced educator," said State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "Her scholarship and experience as a college professor will contribute significantly to the museum's mission as an educational and research institution. The New York State Museum is proud to welcome her as curator of paleontology and New York State Paleontologist." 

Dr. Amati was previously an associate professor of geology at SUNY Potsdam. She received her B.S. from the University of Wyoming, M.S. from Kent State University, and Ph.D. the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Amati's research is focused on the paleontology of New York State with a concentration on the ecology and evolution of 450 million year old trilobites.

She is the second woman to serve as New York State Paleontologist. Winifred Goldring was the first woman State Paleontologist and served in that role from 1939 to 1954.

Education Law section 235 requires that the Board of Regents appoint the State Paleontologist and that the State Paleontologist be a member of the staff at the New York State Museum.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum has opened a new exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone for the Empire State Plaza that occurred on June 21,1965. The Empire State Plaza at 50 is organized in collaboration with the New York State Office of General Services and features dozens of images as well as artwork from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection.

Open through January 17, 2016, the exhibition also features a 1963 model of an "Albany of the Future", which includes a model of the Empire State Plaza. In addition, two pieces from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection will be on exhibition: Four at Forty-Five by Alexander Calder and Studies for the Sun by Isamu Noguchi. A portrait of Nelson Rockefeller by Andy Warhol will also be on display.

"This June is the 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone for the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza," said New York State Museum Director Mark Schaming. "In cooperation with the New York State Office of General Services, the State Museum is proud to open The Empire State Plaza at 50 exhibition. The State Museum and the Board of Regents are dedicated to educating Museum visitors about New York's history. This exhibition explores the Empire State Plaza's history and how Albany became the public space where New York State government, culture and community converge."

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said, "The New York State Museum has done an exceptional job creating an exhibit that captures the construction of the Empire State Plaza including the stories of those who built it, explanations about how the complex works mechanically, the architectural influences that inspired its design, and the art collection that adorns it. I join Governor Cuomo in encouraging people to visit the museum to learn more about this project and many other interesting pieces of New York State History." 

A collection of video shorts that explore various features and workings of the Empire State Plaza will be screened Saturday, June 20 through Friday, June 26 (except for Monday June 22) at 12:30pm at the New York State Museum's Huxley Theater. Screenings are free and open to the public.

Photos from the exhibition are available at: http://nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/plaza50/.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

The New York State Museum will display a recently conserved 19^th century presentation flag reportedly given to the Six Nations Iroquois by the United States government around 1813. On display for six months in Native Peoples of New York Hall, the flag was conserved by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Measuring 60 inches by 118 inches, the flag is one of many presentation flags commissioned by the United States government given as tokens of peace to Native American leaders in the early 19^th century. Differing from the more common “stars and stripes” design, presentation flags often depict an eagle in the canton (upper corner). The eagle on this flag is nearly identical to others painted by William Berrett, an artist who sometimes painted flags sewn by Elizabeth Claypoole, better known as Betsy Ross.

Prior to conservation, the flag was in very fragile condition and could not be unfolded, studied or displayed without causing significant damage. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation prepared and conserved the flag so that it may be properly stored and displayed.

The New York State Museum acquired the flag from the Minnesota Historical Society in 1962. According to the society’s records, it was donated to them in 1889 by Clay McCauley, a minister who also worked for the Bureau of American Ethnology. McCauley attributed the flag to Eleazer Williams, a controversial missionary of Mohawk and European descent who preached among the Oneida and Mohawk Nations in the first half of the 19th century.

It is not known how Williams acquired the flag, but he served in the U.S. Army from about 1812 to 1814. Envisioning one great Iroquois empire in the west, Williams worked with the Ogden Land Company to convince Native Americans in New York to move to Wisconsin in the 1820s, thus opening their lands for Euro-American settlement. Most Nations refused the move to Wisconsin with the exception of the Stockbridge Munsee and some members of the Oneida Nation, where they still have reservations today.

A photo of the flag is available here: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/PRkit/2015/flag/.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.

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