Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

1997-2010

"VISIONS OF MOUNT LEBANON."

Joline Arts Center, Darrow School, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, New Lebanon, New York, 2010.

Contemporary photography taken at the National Historic Landmark from over 30 invited artists, the general public, and local students was the centerpiece of this exhibition, which also included photographs from the Museum's archives and from the National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey and Historic American Landscapes Survey.  A catalog of the invited artists work was published.

"The Great Stone Barn: Built, Burned, and Beyond."

The North Family Granary, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, New Lebanon, New York, 2009.

The exhibit celebrated the 150th anniversary of the historic barn’s construction.  Included from the Museum's archives were photographs, original drawings and plans, rare film footage and artifacts documenting the Great Stone Barn’s history from conceptualization to the 1972 fire that destroyed much of the structure, to future plans for the stabilization of the remaining structure.

"Recycle, Reuse, Repair: Examples of Shaker Stewardship.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York, 2008.

Objects form the Museum’s collection were chosen as examples of the Shakers’ ideas of “right use of property.” Bowls and shovels repaired with the same care and eye to detail as newly made objects; machines and chairs repurposed for new needs; and recycled fabric woven into rugs were some of the items on display.

“An Eye Toward Perfection: The Shaker Museum and Library.”
Winter Antiques Show, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, New York, January 18 -27, 2008.

The Museum presented some of the best examples from its collection of objects that demonstrate Shaker principles of faith, community, industry, and design in this showcase exhibition. Designed by Stephen Saitas Designs to echo the distinctive architectural forms of the Mount Lebanon Meetinghouse, the installation included over 100 objects, from furniture to gift drawings, exhibiting the collection’s strengths of remarkable original furniture finishes and detail, comprehensive scope, and impeccable provenance, as more than half of the objects in the collection were obtained directly from Shakers.

“Gift: A Painting Installation.”
Brethren’s Workshop, North Family, Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham and New Lebanon, New York. 2006.

Léonie Guyer, during a three week residency at Mount Lebanon, executed paintings on the walls of a room in the historic 1829 Brethren’s Workshop at the North Family, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village. Guyer’s work was supported by a grant from the Sites Re-Seen, an initiative sponsored by the Museum Program of the New York State Council on the Arts. A catalogue of Guyer’s work, Gift, was produced in 2007 by the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College, Portland, Oregon.

“Notable Neighbors: The Shaker Legacy in Columbia County.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 2005.

Objects from the Museum’s collection were used to draw connections between the Shaker community in New Lebanon, New York, and non-Shaker residents with whom they interacted socially, politically, and economically.

“A Table of Faith: The Works of Sister Karlyn Cauley.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 2004.

Since 1961 Karlyn Cauley has been a member of the Sisters of the Divine Savior, an order devoted to education and health care. Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sister Karlyn has drawn much of the inspiration for her work from Shaker “gift” drawings. “A Table of Faith” presented more than forty of her works. They were available for purchase. For more information about her work visit

“Our Shaker Neighbors: Men and Women Working Together.”
The Granary, North Family, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, Shaker Museum and Library, New Lebanon, New York. 2004.

This exhibition was planned and executed by students from an after school program at New Lebanon High School, New Lebanon, New York. The students work expressed their fascination with the fact that Shakers had once lived in their town.

“Restoring the North Family Shaker Site.”
World Monuments Fund Gallery, New York, New York. June 10, 2004 – September 20, 2004.

This exhibition presented the World Monuments Fund’s selection of the North Family Shaker Site for its 2004 Watch List and the Shaker Museum and Library’s plans for restoring the site.

“Coming Full Circle: Shaker Faith, Community, Industry and Design.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 2003-2004.

The interrelationship between the themes of faith, community, industry, and design was explored in this exhibition. It does not matter with which theme one begins, it is possible to make relationships through the three other themes to “come full circle” back to the original theme.

“All at Home: Domestic Furniture from Mount Lebanon.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 2003.

In anticipation of the Shaker Museum and Library’s expansion to its campus at the North Family at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, this exhibition presented selected pieces of furniture from its collection that represent some of the best work of Mount Lebanon’s cabinetmakers.

“In Our Humble Opinion: The Good – Better – Best of Shaker Collecting.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 2003.

Experts in the evaluation Shaker objects, including, buckets, oval boxes, dolls, chairs, and baskets, selected their favorite examples from the Museum’s collections, ranked and explained their selections as to whether they were “good, better, or best” examples of the Shaker artisan’s work.

“Work: Shaker Design and Recent Art.”
The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York.
July 7, 2001-September 23, 2001.

Curator Ian Berry selected pieces from the collection of the Shaker Museum and Library and recent works by a number of artists, some of whom have drawn their work directly from inspiration supplied by their knowledge of the Shakers. The exhibition was organized around the themes of invention, spirit, and aesthetics. Recent artists included: Janine Antoni, Fern Apfel, Stephen Dean, Jessica Diamond, Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Meighan Gale, Sam Gordon, Ann Hamilton, Richard Pettibone, Ad Reinhardt, Kate Shepherd, and Andrea Zittel. A catalogue by the same name as the exhibition was published.

“Creating Perfection: Shaker Objects and Their Affinities.”
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington. October 5, 2000-April 29, 2001.

This exhibition was organized by the Seattle Art Museum. Guest curator, John T. Kirk worked in collaboration with the Shaker Museum and Library. The majority of the works lent for this exhibition were from the Shaker Museum and Library. Much of the intellectual content for this exhibition was drawn from The Shaker World: Art, Life, Belief by John T. Kirk, Harry N. Abrams, 1997. An exhibition poster was published by the Seattle Art Museum but no catalogue was published.

“Shaker Gifts, Shaker Genius: The Collections of the Shaker Museum and Library.”
PaineWebber Art Gallery, New York, New York. January 22, 1999-April 2, 1999.

Selections from the holdings of the Shaker Museum and Library were presented in this exhibition. Curator, Erin M. Budis, explored two themes in the Shaker experience — the “gifts” they received through spiritual revelation and the inspired genius that found expression in the furniture, dress, music, and products Shakers created. A gallery guide and poster were published for the exhibition.

“Making His Mark: The Works of Shaker Craftsman Orren Haskins.”
Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York. 1997.

This exhibition brought together for the first time numerous examples of the work of a single Shaker cabinetmaker, Orren Haskins (1815-1892) accompanied by some of his tools and materials associated with his life at the Shaker community at Mount Lebanon, New York. The curator, Erin M. Budis, borrowed from a number of private collections and institutions for the exhibition. Lenders included: Ed Clerk, Robert J. Hamilton, Jr., Nancy Hillenburg, Richard Janosko, Dr. Thomas and Jan Pavlovic, The Sherman Family Collection, Elizabeth G. and Jean Torno, Jr., Hancock Shaker Village, The Mount Lebanon Shaker Collection, The Western Reserve Historical Society Library, and The Winterthur Library: The Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection. A catalogue was published for the exhibition.

In addition to these exhibitions, the Shaker Museum and Library has also been a lender to the following exhibitions:

“A Remarkable Past: Objects of Outlandish Purpose and Astonishing Configuration,”
Albany International Airport Gallery,
October 24 2008-March 29, 2009.

“Out of This World: Shaker Design Past, Present,
and Future.”
Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont.
June 16, 2007 – October 28, 2007.
The Bard Graduate Center, New York, New York. March 13, 2008 – June 15, 2008.

“Craft in America: A Journey to the Artists, Origins and Techniques of American Craft.”
Organized by Craft in America, Inc., Los Angeles, California.
Seven locations: April 13, 2007 – May 25, 2009.

“Simple Eloquence.”
Boston Architecture Center, Boston, Massachusetts. December 10, 2003 – January 10, 2004.

“Shaker Peddlers.”
The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, New York, New York. August 29, 2003 – October 22, 2003.

“Show Off: Museum Directors Select from Their Collections.”
Albany International Airport Gallery, Albany, New York. September 30, 2002 – February 16, 2003.

“Cities of Peace, Love, Union: The Hancock Bishopric.”
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. June 14, 2002 – April 19, 2003.

“Inspired Choices: Creations of Shaker Life.” Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, Sandwich, Massachusetts. May 12, 2002 – October 31, 2002.

“Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs.”
UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, California. August 29 – October 21, 2001.
The Drawing Center, New York, New York. October 31, 2001 –