Lost Towns of the Catskill Watersheds

The Time and the Valleys Museum in Grahamsville, Sullivan County, NY, is presenting “Bittersweet Memories: Lost Towns of the Catskills Watersheds,” a new augmented reality exhibition which explores the heartache and loss of homes taken in the Catskills for New York City’s water systems, will open to the public the weekend of June 10th and 11th.

Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 pm at the Time and the Valleys Museum on St. Rt. 55 in Grahamsville, NY.

Seventeen talented local artists joined together to create this exhibition, including Elise Hornbeck of Grahamsville, Valerie Taggart of Livingston Manor, Laverne Black of Woodbourne and Kate McGloughlin of Olivebridge. Their beautiful art creations along with photos, stories and artifacts tell a heartbreaking story of the price of eminent domain or the taking of land without owners consent for the building of New York City’s water system in the early to mid 1900s.

For the first time in the area: The Museum has partnered with SUNY Sullivan Graphic Arts Department to add an Augmented Reality overlay to some of the paintings! Supervised by Professor Joseph Poon, students Nathaniel Martinez, Anthony Brasington, Brooke Scheuermann, Layla Mack, Zach Haberzetti and Thomas Millspaugh spent hours on each painting, creating different visual and audio effects. Looking at the paintings with their smart phone or tablet, exhibit visitors will be able to see the artwork come alive with moving images, music, sound effects and more, because of these students hard work.

From noon to 4 pm, visitors can explore the interactive exhibition, enjoy refreshments and speak with some of the artists. The Museum’s two permanent exhibitions will also be open, along with the newly-renovated and expanded Museum Shop. A full color catalogue of the exhibition will be available for sale for $15.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 16 and under, free for children under 6. The Time and the Valleys Museum is located at 332 Main Street, in Grahamsville. For more information, visit their website.

Illustration provided.