Imaginary Wilds: Architectural Interventions for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site 

A pop-up exhibition at the Thomas Cole Site by the students and faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s School of Architecture

Curated by Adam Dayem, Assistant Professor, Rensselaer School of Architecture and Principal, Actual Office Architecture PLLC

The pop-up exhibition presents a series of student-designed architectural projects completed throughout the Fall 2022 semester that imagine a new gallery building sited within the landscape of Thomas Cole’s historic home and studio in Catskill, New York. Ten student projects will be exhibited, comprised of three-dimensional models and digital illustrations. The exhibition will be presented at the Thomas Cole site in the reconstruction of a building that Thomas Cole designed, his 1846 New Studio, which was rebuilt on its original foundation in 2015. The exhibiting students are Alan Aguilera, Stephanie Coraisaca, Kyra Gregoire, Sarah Ishida, Jillian Lin, Katarina Napoli, Helly Rana, Alan Rosas, Scott Sigmund and Javier Torres.

Framed by the concept of a mythic wild landscape, which was prevalent in Cole’s time and persists in ours, Imaginary Wilds presents a series of forward-looking designs that address real and ideal relationships between architecture and landscape. The exhibition will be on view weekends from March 9 to April 7, 2024.

The project is accompanied by a book published by ORO Editions. The book includes texts and essays by Evan Douglis, Dean, Rensselaer School of Architecture; Elizabeth B. Jacks, Executive Director, Thomas Cole National Historic Site; Adam Dayem, Assistant Professor, Rensselaer School of Architecture; David Salomon, Associate Professor, Ithaca College; Cathryn Dwyre-Perry, Adjunct Associate Professor, Pratt Institute; and William L. Coleman, Curator, Brandywine Museum of Art. Additional contributors: Jillian Crandall, Lecturer, Rensselaer School of Architecture; David Bell, Associate Professor, Rensselaer School of Architecture; Gustavo Crembil, Associate Professor, Rensselaer School of Architecture; and Leandro Piazzi, Lecturer, Rensselaer School of Architecture.

Press Release

RELATED PROGRAMMING

Sunday Salon on Sunday, March 24 

2 & 4 pm in the New Studio

Meet the RPI Architecture students for a studio-style presentation of their work. See what it’s like to attend architecture school. Hear student presentations and expert critique from professors and other project participants. There will be two salons at 2 pm and 4 pm with a public book reception in between.

Tickets