Program to Feature Artists of Taconic State Park

Historian and art enthusiast Jim Mackin will present “Artists of Taconic State Park” at a lecture and slide show on Saturday, October 26th at 1pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, Corner of Route 344 and Miles Road in Copake Falls. Admission is free.

Mackin will share with the audience his quest to find artists who have painted in Taconic State Park since the early 1800s. His presentation will include related local and park history as well as stories about some of the renowned artists whose works found their way into prominent museums. The presentation will feature many images that illustrate how inspiring Taconic State Park has been to artists for nearly two centuries. John Frederick Kensett, Asher B. Durand and David Milne are among the artists expected to be featured.

Mackin has presented several programs for Friends of Taconic State Park on a wide variety of Park related topics including natural, cultural and industrial history. He is renowned in New York City for his “Weekday Walks” to interesting and lesser visited parts of the five boroughs and is an active volunteer for several organizations including the New-York Historical Society, the Roebling (NYC) Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology and the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group, among other affiliations.

Friends of Taconic State Park was established in 2008 to support cultural, recreational and educational activities within the park. The group hosts hiking and snowshoeing events throughout the year, as well as educational programs on the history of the Copake Iron Works, the historic site located within the park. The group is currently raising funds to preserve the 19th century Copake Iron Works furnace.

To learn more about Jim Mackin, visit his website at www.weekdaywalks.com. For information about the Friends of Taconic State Park, visit their website at www.FriendsofTSP.org, email them at info@friendsoftsp.org, or call 518-966-2730.

Illustration: Bash Bish stream by John Frederick Kensett.