Americans

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson

As communities across New York begin to reflect on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, many are asking important questions about how we tell our collective story and whose voices have been included along the way. The Rev250 commemoration invites not only celebration, but a deeper understanding. Here in the Hudson Valley, that conversation is already taking shape through cultural experiences that encourage us to look more closely at our shared history.

What if an exhibition didn’t just show you history, but asked you to rethink it? That’s the experience awaiting visitors at the Americans exhibition, now on view at the Cornell Creative Arts Center in Kingston through May 16. Presented by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in collaboration with Museums on Main Street, this nationally touring exhibition begins its six-year journey here in the Hudson Valley, making Kingston the first of 125 communities across the country to host it.

“It’s exciting—we’re the first stop,” shared Jo Ann Campise, Director of the Cornell Creative Arts Center. “This exhibition will travel to communities of all kinds, and we’re proud to be where that journey begins.”

At its core, Americans explores how Native American history and identity have been portrayed and often misunderstood throughout American culture. Moving through sections that reference familiar narratives like Pocahontas, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Trail of Tears, the exhibition challenges visitors to question assumptions and reconsider what may have been left out of the stories many of us learned.

“The main takeaway,” Campise noted, “is to help diminish stereotypes. It’s thought-provoking—it asks people to revisit histories that have often been erased and to better understand the challenges Native Americans have faced.”

Visitors engage at their own pace through interactive elements, guided materials, and digital content accessed through QR codes. A final section invites reflection, encouraging visitors to share their own thoughts and reactions. For some, the experience may feel deeply personal; for others, it may spark new perspectives. Either way, it opens the door for meaningful conversation about history, identity, and understanding.

The exhibition has already brought the community together in powerful ways. The opening reception featured a moving Land Acknowledgment and performance by the Red Feather Drummers, remarks from Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, and programming in partnership with the Kingston Library.

That sense of connection continues with upcoming free events. On May 9, visitors can participate in a hands-on ceramic canoe glazing activity, creating a piece inspired by historical forms, with finished works available for pickup after firing. The same day features music and storytelling with Evan Pritchard, a longtime educator in Native American studies and founder of the Center for Algonquin Culture. With offerings such as children’s scavenger hunts and multigenerational programming, the exhibition is designed to be accessible to all.

“It’s free, it’s welcoming, and it’s something you can experience at any level,” Campise shared.

As the exhibition enters its final weeks in Kingston, now is the time to visit. In the spirit of Rev250, it offers not just a look back, but an invitation to think more deeply about the stories that shape us. You may walk in with curiosity, but you’ll leave with something more.

If you go:
Americans
Through May 16, 2026
Tuesday - Thursday & Saturday
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fridays
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: 129 Cornell Street, Kingston NY, 12401
845-768-5080
info@ccacny.org
www.ccacny.org/gallery