Dorsky Museum to Host 'In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books'
"R.B. Kitaj, Photo-Eye (El Lissitzky) (from the portfolio “In Our Time”), 1969–70. Photo: Robert Hansen-Sturm. © R. B. Kitaj Estate, courtesy of PIANO NOBILE, London.
The exhibition “In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books,” on view at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz from June 17 to Nov. 8, 2026, explores the artist’s appreciation of books as visually potent and for their capacity to generate myriad associations.
The focus of the exhibition is Kitaj’s complete portfolio, rarely exhibited in its entirety, of fifty silkscreen prints, created between 1969 and 1970, collectively titled “In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part.”
Acquired by The Dorsky in 1979, the prints are based on book covers, dust jackets, and other publication elements, primarily of items in Kitaj’s extensive personal library. Seen together, they form a dense field of references spanning art, film, literature, photography, politics, personal history, and more. “In Our Time” is a story of the histories of books, the biases books bear witness to, the process of collecting them, and their influences.
Kitaj created “In Our Time” while located in Los Angeles, in collaboration with London-based printmaker Chris Prater. This mode of international exchange is in keeping with Kitaj’s broader interest in the movement of people, ideas and cultural materials across borders. Both the technical processes behind the screenprints and their visual references reflect this interest in what Kitaj later termed “Diasporist.”
Several of the publications Kitaj used as models for his prints are included in the exhibition, offering unique insight into his working processes. These items were acquired with the support of a SUNY New Paltz Faculty Development Center Teaching Innovation Award.
Included as a coda to the exhibition is “Forced Omission,” a series of paintings by contemporary artist Daria Irincheeva comprised of approximate reproductions of books by authors persecuted in the Soviet Union during the mid twentieth century. Irincheeva’s paintings echo Kitaj’s prints in their concern with the intertwined histories of culture, persecution, and exile.
“In Our Time” is curated by SUNY New Paltz Professor of Art History Reva Wolf in collaboration with students from her fall 2025 course, Printmaking, Books, and R. B. Kitaj. The students worked directly with the Kitaj portfolio and have contributed to the interpretation and presentation of the works on view. The exhibition is the culmination of a learning experience grounded in close looking and sustained research.
“Forced Omission” is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, thanks to the sponsorship of Unison Arts Center in New Paltz, New York.
About the Dorsky Museum
Through its collections, exhibitions and public programs, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz supports and enriches the academic programs at the University and serves as a center for Hudson Valley arts and culture. With more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, The Dorsky Museum is the largest museum in the SUNY system. Since its official dedication in 2001, The Dorsky has presented more than 100 exhibitions and commissions, including collection-based projects thematic group shows, and in-depth studies of contemporary artists such as Robert Morris, Alice Neel, Judy Pfaff, Carolee Schneemann, Jean Shin, and Ushio Shinohara. Funding for The Dorsky’s exhibitions and programs is provided by the Dorsky Circle and SUNY New Paltz.
Museum Hours
Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and on campus holidays.
For more information about The Dorsky Museum and its programs, visit www.newpaltz.edu/museum or call (845) 257-3844."
St. James Church Ushers Meeting in Hyde Park
"Calling all Ushers! There will be a brief meeting on Sunday, May 31, during coffee hour. Interested in becoming an Usher? You are welcome to attend and learn about this ministry. Contact Joe Gasparini at 845-475-4717 (c/t) or email [email protected]. Thank you!
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Details
Date:
May 31
Time:
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Venue
St. James’ Episcopal Church
4526 Albany Post Rd.
Hyde Park,
NY
12538
United States
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Phone
8452292820
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