This Kingston art exhibit celebrates a spirit of adventure: What to expect

Children have the uncanny ability to see and explore the world in ways that we often lose as adults.

Cardboard boxes can be an infinite many things that are way more exciting than the items that were shipped inside.

I remember as a child, my parents bought a treadmill for our house. The box turned into a submarine, a fort, and a tunnel leading to hours of exploration and imagination. Wouldn’t it be amazing to find a space that could unlock this feeling now?

ArtPort Kingston is doing just that with its upcoming exhibit, "Joy Ride," opening July 21 and running through Aug. 31.

Established in 2019, ArtPort Kingston is a contemporary art gallery and curatorial project space directed by Laurie De Chiara and housed in Kingston’s historic Cornell Steamboat Building. This gallery is on a mission to expand arts access, and to create art experiences that offer unconventional interactions with contemporary art to a wide range of audiences. Working with artists to transform unorthodox art spaces into imaginative, user-friendly platforms that defy genre and lend to playful, engaging relationships with the artworks.

“Art has the ability to transform and activate us,” says De Chiara. “I curate shows based on a reflection on where we are in the world. I feel like we all need a Joy Ride.”

"Joy Ride" celebrates the spirit of adventure and wonder. It is an invitation to escape the confines of everyday life and dive headfirst into a realm where creativity knows no bounds.

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Sculptor Michael Rees creates a dialogue between object, perception, and reality. Rees creates enormous inflatable vinyl cubes that are playful yet astounding. If this wasn’t interesting enough, Rees then allows the viewer to engage with the work using a tablet computer to augment reality with a projection on the walls of the vinyl sculpture.

Patrick Jacobs’ installations invite visitors to look through tiny holes to see a beautiful, expansive world of whimsy and adventure. Where mechanical artist, Arnaldo Morales, takes industrial materials and found objects to create interactive, machine-like sculptures. Continuing in the theme of found objects, Ali Shrago-Spechler uses cardboard to explore history, community and memories.

Traci Johnson’s unforgettable work allows the viewer to use all five senses to explore their installation. Using fiber rug work to create sculptures and murals, all are welcome to come, sit, and touch the soft three dimensional pieces that vibrantly warm the space. Also speaking to multiple senses, cross-disciplinary artist Kelly Heaton is fascinated by what makes things alive. Heaton, also an engineer and visionary, uses electronics to create circuits with life-like behaviors.

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De Chiara invites all to let the exhibition become a catalyst for their own personal exploration: seek inspiration, consider other perspectives, and break your own rules to locate your inner artist.

Participating Artists: Steve Gerberich, Arnaldo Morales, Kelly Heaton, Lady Labor, Kris Hauser, Patrick Jacobs, Sharon Louden, Ali Shrago-Spechler, Didi Rojas, Crystal Heiden, Michael Rees, Traci Johnson and Stefan Saffer.

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas is the executive director of Arts Mid-Hudson. Art From Here appears every other week. Contact her at 845-454-3222 or melissa@artsmidhudson.org.

If you go

What: "Joy Ride"

Where: ArtPort Kingston, 108 E Strand St., Kingston, NY 12401

When: July 21 - Aug. 31; Opening reception 3-5 p.m. July 21

Gallery hours: noon to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday or by appointment

More information: artportkingston.com

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Kingston's immersive art exhibit explores inflatables to colorful rugs