Exploring Utica's Art and History

The Munson Museum

 

 A recent trip to the city of Utica, NY, this summer, gave me the opportunity to explore some of its history. The Munson Museum offers a look at the city’s artistic past, while Union Station gives an exploration of its classic architecture.

 

Erie Canal and Covered Bridge by Walter M. Oddie

Utica was built along the Mohawk River in 1758, at the site of the old Fort Schuyler, and incorporated in 1798. It served as a key rest stop between Albany and Syracuse, a role that became more important with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. It also served as an important place in the transport of coal from the mines in northern Pennsylvania to the industrial centers along the canal. Its significance continued when railroads took over the job along the canals’ right-of-way.

Alfred Munson by John M. Marble from Munson.Art

 

One early industrialist in the area was Alfred Munson (1793-1854) who made his money through the manufacture of burrstone and textiles, coal mines, and the development of transportation along the canal and rail lines. His daughter Helen (1824-1873) married James Watson Williams (1810-1873) a local lawyer who joined the family business. Helen started collecting decorative and fine art. She was also a shrewd investor who greatly increased the family fortune. Their daughters, Rachel (1850-1915) and Maria (1853-1935), with their husbands, continued collecting art, jewelry, and decorative items. After Rachel’s death in 1915, the remaining three family members decided to create a cultural institution for the city of Utica. Officially named the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, it includes the art museum, an art school connected with The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and a performance space.

Lobsterman by Julian Levi

 

Like many museums in small cities, the Munson has a wide collection of works produced by very good artists. The Munson’s collection is mostly American artists, and it is a joy to walk through.

 

Danae in Arizona Variation II by Kay Walkingstick

Winter, Spuyten Duyvil by Ernest Lawson

Nopmas.M. Egiap Nospmas.M. by Charles Demuth

The Porch II by Phillip Guston

Godzilla by Emma Amos

Crabmen, Charleston by Andrée Ruellan

There was also a special exhibition: American Landscapes from The New York Historical Society (through Sept. 22, 2024).

Study from Nature: Rocks and Trees by Asher Brown Durand

View of the Shandokan Mountains by Asher Brown Durand

Niagara Falls by Louisa Davis Minot

Autumn Woods, Onieda County by Albert Bienstadt

 

Since Utica was an important center of transport and manufacturing, it invested in the building of a beautiful train station. While the city no longer gets the number of passengers that it did in its heyday, the station has been maintained and it is a great place to visit, both to enjoy its architecture, and because it is home to the city’s visitors office, an important resource whenever I travel.

Nuts and Bolts

• Munson Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM; Sunday 12 noon - 5 PM, and it is free at all times.
• The Terrace Cafe is an excellent full restaurant where you can enjoy a great meal. I highly recommend a reservation.
• Utica Union Station is at 321 Main Street. It serves several Amtrak trains every day, along with the Adirondack Railroad tours to Old Forge NY

Classic Cars and Farmers in Santa Fe

 

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a great place to visit. It feels like there is always something going on, especially during the summer. In fact, just walking to the main plaza on a random summer weekend will usually bring you to some enjoyable activity or another.

 

On a Friday evening in June, I happened upon the monthly “Plaza Cruise-In” of the Santa Fe Vintage Car Club. This organization of 150 or so owners restores and exhibits classic cars and raises money for local charities. The club was founded in 1961, and today, in addition to its monthly get-together, they sponsor special events throughout the year. 

 

At a classic car show, people are drawn to particular types of cars. Some go for the muscle cars. Some like 1950’s classics. I love the oddities - the old VW Beetle, the tricked out truck, the resort limo; these are the cars that catch my attention, and the Cruise-In had a nice assortment of them to enjoy.

 

Another fun activity to participate in when visiting Santa Fe is the Farmer’s Market. Held every Saturday at the historic Railyards, near downtown, the Farmer’s Market has become a draw for locals and tourists. In addition to the usual produce and flowers, the Railyard also hosts local artists and crafts people.

 

A visit to Santa Fe is a chance to participate with locals in their celebrations of daily life. Take the time to join in and have fun.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, NM

 

 Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was one of the preeminent artists of the 20th century. Her style was unique, and instantly recognizable. Many people know her as a painter of flowers, but her art is more expansive, and she was constantly inspired by the world around her. Much of the inspiration came from the landscapes of New Mexico, a place she returned to often, and that eventually became her home.

Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz

 

In 1997, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum opened in Santa Fe, new Mexico. Its goal is to not only showcase O’Keeffe’s work, but to explore and preserve the places she was inspired by. In addition to its galleries, the museum maintains O’Keeffe’s archives, open to the public by appointment. It also runs the Georgia O’Keeffe House in Abiquiu NM and the nearby Ghost Ranch Retreat and Education Center, where Georgia spent most summers during the second half of her life.

 

The current exhibit is Georgia O’Keeffe: Making a Life (through Nov. 2, 2025). It explores O’Keeffe’s artistic identity as a “maker.” We know her as a creator of paintings and drawings, but the museum uses her artwork and artifacts from her life to illustrate the ways she created her professional and personal images. From her iconic black wrap-around dress to her “pancakes for one person” recipe there is an exploration into her personal life. Her art, presented chronologically, offers a framework for how she drew on her surroundings and experiences in building her image and creating her art.

Untitled (teapot and flowers)

Black Hollyhock Blue Lightspur

Drawing

No. 22- Special

Anything

Alligator Pear - No. 2

Dark iris No. III

Petunia No. 2

Trees in Autumn

Dead Piñon Tree

Stump in Red Hills

Banyan Tree

The Barns, Lake George

 

One aspect of the exhibit that impressed me was just how varied O’Keeffe’s work was throughout her life. I knew her mostly by her flower paintings, but her pieces inspired by her time in New Mexico were a revelation to me. They are beautiful, and her styled abstraction captures the spirit and the beauty of this part of the world.

Part of the Cliff

Black Mesa Landscape New Mexico

Pedernal

Untitled (Mt. Fuji)

Black Rock with White Background

 

The nine galleries of the museum will take between one and two hours to enjoy, and it is worth that time to have this chance to explore the work of this iconic artist.

Nuts and Bolts:

• The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is located at 217 Johnson St. Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is open daily, from 10 AM - 5 PM.
• Admission tickets are $22 and advance purchase it recommended, but not necessary.