Dear Friend of the HRM,

What happens when we look closely at the natural world? Can wonder deepen our desire to protect it? And what responsibility do we share for the environment we leave to future generations? These questions feel especially relevant today, and this fall at the Hudson River Museum, two extraordinary exhibitions invite us to explore them through art, science, and our own relationship to the world around us.

Opening to the public Friday, September 18, Exquisite Creatures and Borinquen Gallo: Jungle Bliss approach nature from strikingly different perspectives. One reveals the astonishing beauty, diversity, and order found in nature; the other asks us to confront what happens when human consumption disrupts its delicate balance. Together, they invite us not only to see differently, but to consider how closer attention can lead to greater understanding and care.

In Exquisite Creatures, artist and naturalist Christopher Marley transforms ethically sourced animal, mineral, and plant specimens into intricate three-dimensional compositions. His remarkable arrangements reveal patterns, colors, and symmetries that can be easy to overlook, reminding us that wonder often begins with the simple act of looking closely. The exhibition explores biophilia, our innate need to connect with nature, and the idea that deeper appreciation can inspire deeper care. You can hear directly from the artist in a live, virtual artist talk with Christopher Marley and exhibition tour on Saturday, October 10.

I am especially proud that Exquisite Creatures marks a new chapter in our partnership with the Art Bridges Foundation. This season, the art we are presenting through this partnership fully draws upon the HRM’s multidisciplinary identity, bringing art and science together not as separate subjects, but as complementary ways of understanding our world.

Just steps away, Jungle Bliss offers a provocative counterpoint. Borinquen Gallo transforms discarded plastic bags, caution tape, netting, and other synthetic materials into an immersive, seemingly verdant environment. What first appears lush and natural gradually reveals itself to be entirely artificial. Her installation asks us to confront the consequences of disposable consumer culture and the growing pressures on our environment, from microplastics in our waterways to invasive species and the fragmentation of natural habitats.

These questions have particular resonance here. The Hudson River and the communities that surround it are not simply our setting; they are central to who we are as a Museum and create the connective tissue that makes our innovative work resonate nationally. At a moment when environmental change can feel vast and abstract, these exhibitions bring the conversation close to home. They remind us that curiosity, creativity, and stewardship are deeply connected, and that our individual choices contribute to the health of a shared ecosystem.

Gallo’s work also reflects another value essential to the HRM: participation. Over the past few weeks, community members of all ages have joined the artist at the Museum for Artist at Work open hours, contributing their time, creativity, and hands to the making of Jungle Bliss. They showed up, worked alongside Gallo, and became part of the creative process itself. That spirit of collective participation is especially meaningful for an installation concerned with our shared responsibility for the world around us. It is also a powerful expression of what we believe a museum can be: not simply a place to encounter art and ideas, but a place where people come together to help shape them. We are grateful for their contributions. Boriquen is also serving as our Teaching Artist-in-Residence this season, and will be conducting many workshops including an Outdoor Community Event with Dobby Ferry Waterfront Park on Saturday, October 3.

We have an exciting lineup of programs for you this fall:

• Free First Fridays: Grab your friends and join us on Friday, October 2, for a special evening with Magician and Mentalist Andy Gersh—and maybe be open to having your mind read!
• Be part of our Día de Muertos Community Altar: Due to strong interest, we are extending the dates of this meaningful community installation. You’re invited to bring a photo or memory of a loved one during Museum hours from October 17–November 1.
• Don’t miss our annual Halloweekend on Saturday, October 31, complete with a hair-raising visit from live lizards, tarantulas, and boa constrictors!
• New this year! We are thrilled to announce our inaugural Diwali festival on Saturday, November 14, featuring artmaking, classical Indian music and dance, henna, and more.

We are always committing to creating more ways to make the HRM accessible to all, but what continues to inspire me is the curiosity, commitment, and generosity of the people who make the HRM what it is and better with every year. I am deeply grateful to our community and supporters, and our talented and dedicated board and team for being integral to that journey and for helping us advance a bold vision of not only what the Hudson River Museum can be, but what MUSEUMS can be: places of discovery, connection, imagination, and possibility, open and vital to all.

This fall, you’re invited to visit often. Bring family and friends. Look closely, ask questions, experience our exhibitions and programs, and spend time along the Hudson. Thank you for being part of the Hudson River Museum and for the many ways you participate in its life.

I look forward to welcoming you back for an exquisite fall season.

Masha Turchinsky
Anita K. Hersh Director and CEO
Hudson River Museum

Image: Left: Christopher Marley (b. 1969), Aesthetica Sphere (detail), 2011. Art Bridges. © Christopher Marley. Photo: Jeana Wunderlich. Right: Borinquen Gallo (American, b. 1975). Jungle Bliss (detail), 2026. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist and Alessandro Berni Gallery. Photo: Chika Kobari.