Mall revival: artists transform abandoned retail spaces into unexpected galleries
The iconic Hudson Valley Mall, a relic of 80s and 90s consumerism, is undergoing a radical reinvention. Once a bustling hub of teenage dreams and shopping sprees, it’s now becoming an unlikely canvas for contemporary art.
A second life for a forgotten landmark
Just north of Kingston, New York, the complex, now largely deserted with storefronts echoing emptiness, is the focus of a bold project spearheaded by curator Marly Hammer and a collective of creatives. ‘The Mall’ isn’t about preserving the past; it’s about interrogating it – a deliberate rejection of decline as an ending, instead embracing the space’s unique history as a crucible of identity, commerce and community.
For Hammer, Asmus, and Richey, the mall was never just about buying things. It was a laboratory of self, a place where young people navigated the complexities of becoming – experimenting with style, music, and belonging within those vibrant, often chaotic, corridors. “We wanted to lean into the history of the mall,” Hammer explains, “Consumerism, pop culture, nostalgia, and community.”
From vhs to vinyl: a nostalgic exploration
The exhibition is part of Upstate Art Weekend, a massive summer gathering that’s transformed the Hudson Valley into a cultural hotspot. But ‘The Mall’ stands apart, using the mall’s very Architecture – its vacant storefronts and forgotten corners – to tell a story. The former Hot Topic, now ‘Off Topic,’ is a prime example, offering pop-up shops showcasing Brooklyn’s Lagoon and Kingston’s Everywhere Shop alongside a curated exhibit on 90s nostalgia and adolescent angst. Walls are plastered with meticulously crafted VHS cases, re-presenting iconic films, while digitally printed T-shirts echo vintage graphic tees – a direct nod to the experiences of a generation.
Inside, you’ll find a ‘Gallery New Contemporary’ exhibition hosted in the former GNC, featuring works that dissect consumer culture with striking detail. Dina Cline’s miniature ceramics, including a Tamagotchi and a Game Boy, juxtapose with Jeffrey Augustine Songco’s monumental Friendship Bracelets, elevating a simple craft to an unexpected sculptural statement. Elsewhere, a former GameStop has become ‘Pharmakon,’ an installation exploring the blurred lines between desire and consumption.
Unexpected encounters
Beyond the art, the mall itself is actively participating. Stuart Lantry’s Ferris wheel, laden with consumer goods – hot dogs, Doritos, McDonald’s boxes – is a surreal commentary on 2019’s presidential banquet. Linda Colletta’s immersive installation, ‘TV Dinners,’ recreates a childhood living room, complete with period furniture and a VHS copy of ‘Johnny Dangerously’ – a reminder of the limited media access of her youth. Marianna Peragallo’s houseplants, growing within thermoplastic shopping bags, evoke the ubiquitous Shrinky Dinks of childhood.
The organizers don’t aim to sanitize the space. They’ve deliberately preserved the mall’s ghosts, acknowledging its role in shaping generational identities. “We’re encouraging them to come into these spaces and experience something they might not normally do,” Richey notes. The ambition is to collapse the distance between contemporary art and everyday life, fostering a unique dialogue between art, community, and the remnants of a bygone era.
This weekend, the mall isn't a place to shop; it's a place to rediscover, to reflect, and to recognize the enduring power of memory and imagination. The project closes Sunday, leaving behind a lingering question: can a forgotten space, revitalized by art, offer a surprising glimpse into who we are – and who we want to become?