Celebrating the African Spirit exhibits in honor of Black History Month

February 1 – 28, Ground Floor

Daniel Baxter: Portraits on Maps
October 9 – January 8

Daniel Baxter is a graduate of Parsons School of Design. He’s worked for decades as an award-winning illustrator. His work has appeared in hundreds of publications and books, including a branding campaign for The New York Times. In recent years, he’s turned his love for drawing toward more personal work, creating drawings on pre-existing printed material such as maps, music sheets, and old book pages. He is currently involved with several upcoming exhibits. Daniel Lives in Red Hook, New York. 

Daniel Baxter is fascinated by map-making and drawing. Having grown up around maps, he was always intrigued by the mystery behind what cartography represents. With a background in illustration, he’s had a life-long passion for drawing and is interested in what can be conveyed when maps and pictures are intermingled in one image. He finds preexisting maps and treats these cartographic images as canvases so they become a springboard for exploring a variety of themes: identity, national and local pride, history, nature, politics, and perhaps most importantly, environmental issues. Each map transforms into a window of sorts, with an observation about the place it represents.

Artist Talk: Thursday, November 14, 5:30 pm
Registration required, click here.

Jenny Sweeny
January 8 – April 29

Jenny is an exceptionally skilled visual artist, specializing in creating incredibly realistic drawings using colored pencils and watercolor paints. Art has been an essential outlet for her, enabling her to powerfully express her emotions and overcome numerous challenges. She diligently pursued her passion by taking art courses at Spackenkill High School and Dutchess Community College while bravely serving in the Air National Guard. Following the expansion of her family, Jenny discovered profound inspiration for her recent “Through the Eyes of a Child” series, passionately capturing the innocence and curiosity of children in her drawings. In addition to her impressive artistic work, Jenny actively engages with her community, serving as a highly sought-after professional face painter for various events and parties. Her impactful collaborations with esteemed local organizations further demonstrate her commitment to community involvement. Jenny and her lively family reside in the charming Town of Poughkeepsie, where they find immense joy and creative inspiration in their bustling home, which is also shared with by beloved pets.

Artist Talk: Thursday, January 16, 6 pm
Boardman Road Branch Library
Registration required, click here.

Onaje Benjamin: Photography
October 30 – January 7, 2025

Born in 1948, the same year that the Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, Onaje Benjamin was destined to be drawn into the turbulence of activism evolving out of the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 60s.  Being of African American and Caribbean descent & raised in Harlem provided a rich cultural foundation for Onaje to develop his creative framework.

Onaje pursued a career as a community organizer, activist and social worker, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts and social work.  As a self-taught photographer, Onaje has sought to capture the complexity of lifestyles within the communities her resides and.  He chooses to create monochromatic representations of the world he interprets through the lens.

Defining himself as a documentary/humanist photographer, Onaje’s work has been well received.  He began his photographic work in the 80s working with film cameras.  Career demands required him to suspend his photography for a number of decades; only recently returning to the field upon retirement in 2015; which required a steep learning curve in the world of digital cameras and editing software.

Onaje’s work has been well received, with his work being exhibited in galleries in the Mid-Hudson Valley, New England and New York City; including a solo show at the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum.  He has received numerous awards, including the Lelani Claire Award for Outstanding Achievement in Photography. He conducted artist talks at the Center for Photography in Woodstock.

Whether capturing the action of a women’s roller derby scrimmage or professional football game, or the intricate aspects of tattooing or political protest, Onaje’s photographs reflect the shifting cultural and political landscapes which make up the communities he resides within.

Rock and Mineral Collection of Kayleigh Hartnett

January 2 – 28

Celebrating the African Spirit exhibits in honor of Black History Month

February 1 – 28