Mall revival: artists transform abandoned spaces into unexpected galleries
The once-dominant Hudson Valley mall – and the American shopping center as a whole – is a relic of the past. Now, a creative collective is breathing new life into its decaying facade, turning forgotten storefronts into vibrant art spaces.
A gallery born from neglect
Just north of Kingston, the sprawling complex once housed giants like Kmart, JCPenney, and Sears. Today, it’s a landscape of vacancies, punctuated by a handful of resilient businesses. But for curator Marly Hammer and her team – Jasper Richmus (founded by Kate Asmus and John Richey) – this decline isn’t an ending; it’s an opportunity. Their ambitious project, ‘The Mall,’ is injecting contemporary art – painting, sculpture, installations, and photography – into the mall’s very Architecture.
The exhibition, now open through Sunday as part of Upstate Art Weekend, is more than just a show; it’s an exploration of consumer culture, nostalgia, and the evolving identity of communities. The team spent months securing access to three abandoned stores, painstakingly clearing decades of accumulated dust and transforming them into immersive exhibitions. They’ve deliberately preserved the building’s ‘ghosts,’ showcasing a group exhibition, ‘Gallery New Contemporary,’ dedicated to consumerism, featuring pieces like Dina Cline’s miniature ceramics – a Tamagotchi and a Game Boy – and Jeffrey Augustine Songco’s oversized Friendship Bracelets.
Elsewhere, the former Hot Topic has been reborn as ‘Off Topic,’ a nostalgic dive into 1990s teen mall culture. The space is filled with meticulously hand-painted VHS cases – a ‘Wall of VHS Girl’s’ – depicting beloved films, alongside Jennifer Sullivan’s portraits of Courtney Love and Richey’s digitally printed T-shirts riffing on vintage graphic tees. Richey notes that Hot Topic held a unique position, attracting those who felt outside the mainstream, creating a space for identity exploration and subcultures.
But the project isn’t simply about aesthetics. Hammer, Asmus, and Richey see the mall as a “laboratory of identity,” a place where generations shaped themselves through consumerism and pop culture. ‘Pharmakon,’ organized by Watercolour Society, explores the blurred lines between desire and consumption, featuring Linzi Silverman’s tarot decks and Johannah Herr’s candy-colored rugs commenting on American gun culture. And Stuart Lantry’s Ferris wheel of food and consumer goods – a playful reference to President Trump’s 2019 banquet – stands as a stark reminder of a bygone era.
The organizers hope the exhibition will foster a democratic exchange between artists and the public, encouraging a willingness to engage with art outside of traditional gallery settings. ‘We’re encouraging them to come into these spaces and experience something they might not normally do,’ Richey explains. Ultimately, ‘The Mall’ offers a poignant reflection on the shifting landscape of American culture, transforming a symbol of decline into a vibrant testament to human creativity and resilience. The ambition is not merely to exhibit art but to collapse the distance between contemporary art and everyday life, proving that even in abandonment, there’s still a story to tell.”n