Mall revival: artists transform abandoned shopping center into unexpected gallery
The ghosts of consumerism are finding new life in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Once a bustling hub of teenage dreams and suburban shopping, the Hudson Valley Mall is being reborn – not as a retail destination, but as a vibrant, temporary art space.
A forgotten landscape reimagined
What was once a sprawling complex dominated by Kmart, JCPenney, and the scent of food court pizza is now a collision of contemporary art and architectural decay. Curators Marly Hammer, Kate Asmus, and John Richey are leading the charge, transforming vacant storefronts and forgotten corridors into a multi-disciplinary exhibition dubbed ‘The Mall.’
It’s a jarring juxtaposition: a meticulously curated collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations nestled within the skeletal remains of a bygone era. The project isn’t about preserving the mall’s former glory; it’s about interrogating its legacy—a history of identity formation, fueled by the very commerce that ultimately led to its decline.
Echoes of the 90s
Inside the former Hot Topic, ‘Off Topic’ revisits the mall’s unique subcultural magnetism. Walls are plastered with meticulously recreated VHS cases – a nostalgic trip back to the era of Courtney Love and 90s grunge. Nearby, Jeffrey Augustine Songco’s oversized Friendship Bracelets, painstakingly crafted, elevate a simple symbol of adolescent connection into a striking architectural element. The space also welcomes pop-ups from local boutiques like Lagoon and Everywhere Shop, showcasing sustainable fashion and queer-owned goods.
Beyond the surface
But ‘The Mall’ goes deeper than mere nostalgia. In the former GNC, ‘Gallery New Contemporary’ presents a sobering commentary on consumer culture, featuring Dina Cline’s miniature ceramics – a Tamagotchi and a Game Boy – alongside Hadi Falipishi’s sculptures that explore the blurred lines between desire and consumption. Elsewhere, a former GameStop now houses ‘Pharmakon,’ an exhibition that uses sculpture, apparel, and installation to dissect the uncomfortable relationship between consumerism and our deepest longings. Don’t miss Linzi Silverman’s tarot decks, or Johannah Herr’s candy-colored rugs that, surprisingly, tackle American gun culture.
Stuart Lantry’s Ferris wheel of food and consumer goods, a direct reference to President Trump’s 2019 banquet, adds a layer of wry commentary, while Linda Colletta’s immersive installation recreates her childhood living room, complete with a 1984 Johnny Dangerously VHS tape – a tangible reminder of a simpler time. The space feels undeniably alive, a strange and compelling blend of art and memory.
Hammer describes the project’s ambition: “We wanted to lean into the history of the mall – consumerism, pop culture, nostalgia, and community.” It’s a bold move, inviting visitors – art aficionados, families, and curious locals alike – to experience a space simultaneously familiar and profoundly altered. The exhibition runs through Sunday as part of Upstate Art Weekend, a vital cultural event that continues to redefine the Hudson Valley’s creative landscape.