|
Ice House on The Hudson
The Hudson River was the center
of a large and thriving ice harvesting industry for most of the 19th
Century. Employing manual and
horse-drawn saws, large blocks of ice were cut from the frozen river, processed
and stored in the many ice houses that dotted the river shores.
|
|
One of the few surviving historic ice industry structures is the Ice House on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie. This iconic building has been renovated and adapted for use as a restaurant. The interior and exterior have been respectfully restored, preserving their original character and architectural details. It is the perfect setting, visually and historically, for an exhibition of sculptures from my On the Cutting Edge series which feature antique ice saws. |
|
Located in a public park adjoining the river, the site of the Ice House is bounded and framed by majestic geologic features and man-made structures ---- the Hudson River and mountains to the west; the Mid-Hudson Bridge to the south and the Walkway Over The Hudson to the north. |
|
A landscaped terrace separates the historic building from the river's edge. The sculptures, placed in groups in front of the building and on the terrace, proudly revel in their return to the shores of the Hudson River. Swaying in response to river breezes they interact and communicate with each other and viewers. |
|
The robust iron and steel forms of the sculptures relate them directly to the structures of the two bridges that span the river, connecting them both visually and symbolically, to the majestic river and the rich agricultural and industrial history of the Hudson Valley. See News Article See Poughkeepsie Ice House's Website |