Albany, NY (September 6, 2002) - - - - Rev. Michael A. Farano, Chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority, today announced the latest exhibition to be featured in the Albany International Airport Gallery. SHOW OFF: Directors Select from their Museum Collections, will open on September 30, 2002 and run through February 16, 2003.

"Just as this area provides rich cultural and historical diversity, SHOW OFF will give visitors to the Albany International Airport an enticing glimpse of museum collections through a wide range of objects, artworks, ephemera and oddities, reminiscent of the Smithsonian Institution's eclectic exhibitions," said Rev. Farano.

On the heels of two previous exhibitions that featured intriguing collections from residents of the Capital Region, SHOW OFF has turned to the eye of professional collectors. The directors of 57 museums, historical societies and historic sites have been invited to showcase one favorite object from their institution's collection.

The Capital Region is home to an amazing array of museums. Along with well-known institutions such as The Albany Institute of History & Art, Williams College Museum of Art, The Norman Rockwell Museum, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The New York State Museum, and the Hyde Collection Art Museum, there are countless other organizations that are not as familiar to the general public.

SHOW OFF is curated by Sharon Bates, Director, Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program, and Charles Stainback, Dayton Director, Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College,

"Museums by definition are about their collections - those objects and artifacts that most often define their mission," said Charles Stainback. "Most museums contain hundreds of objects that for any number of reasons are rarely, if ever seen." The Airport will host a public reception for SHOW OFF: Directors Select from their Museum Collections on Friday, October 4, 2002 from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Guest parking will be validated.

Selections for the exhibit include Study for Black Sun, an Isamu Noguchi sculpture from the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, a Revolutionary War canteen from Fort Ticonderoga; a photographic and sound installation based on Christina Kubisch's Clocktower Project, from MASS MoCA; an engraved walking stick given by Andrew Jackson to Martin Van Buren, from the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, and a work by artist Ed Ruscha titled, Every Building on the Sunset Strip, from The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.

Museum participants include: The Adirondack Museum, Albany County Historical Association / Ten Broeck Mansion, Albany Institute of History & Art, Art Omi International Artists' Colony, Bennington Museum, The Berkshire Museum, The Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery, The Chapman Historical Museum, Chesterwood Museum, The Children's Museum at Saratoga, Columbia County Historical Society, Clermont State Historic Site, Crailo State Historic Site, Empire State Aerosciences Museum, The Empire State Plaza Art Collection, The Farmers' Museum, The Fenimore Art Museum, Fort Ticonderoga, Grant Cottage State Historic Site, Hancock Shaker Village, Historic Cherry Hill, The Historical Society of Saratoga Springs, The Hudson River Maritime Museum, The Hyde Collection Art Museum, Irish American Heritage Museum, Iroquois Indian Museum, Johnson Hall State Historic Site, The Junior Museum, Lake George Antique Boat Museum, The 1932 & 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, MASS MoCA, The National Museum of Dance, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, New York Folklore Society, New York State Museum, The Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge, Olana State Historic Site, Old Fort Johnson, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome / Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum, Rensselaer County Historical Society, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society at Brookside Museum, Schenectady County Historical Society, Schenectady Museum, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Senate House State Historic Site, Shaker Heritage Society, Shaker Museum and Library, Slate Valley Museum, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, University Art Museum / University at Albany, Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, Williams College Museum of Art, World Awareness Children's Museum

Albany International Airport Gallery hours are 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. daily. For additional information contact Sharon Bates at 518.242.2241 or email arts@albanyairport.com.

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