A Type of Mother Hannah’s Pocket Handkerchief
Polly Jane Reed (1818–1881)
The Shakers, often celebrated for their minimalist approach to design, will be showcased in a new light with the exhibition Anything but Simple: Gift Drawings and the Shaker Aesthetic. Made by women in the mid-19th century and believed to represent divine messages, the “gift” drawings on display represent a departure from the simplicity typically associated with Shaker material culture.
Opening during the 250th year of Shakerism in the United States, the exhibition features drawings widely considered to be among the finest surviving examples of this rare type. These symbols of love and nature were often given as “tokens” to other Shakers during meetings. Brightly colored and replete with intricate ornamentation, they represent a stunning world of celestial imagery. Compared to examples of Shaker clothing and furniture that are also included in the exhibition, the vibrancy of the drawings marks a distinct contrast with the clean lines typically associated with Shaker design.
Divided into several sections, the exhibition opens with an in-depth look at the Shakers themselves, as well as delve into the “Shaker aesthetic,” the Era of Manifestations, and more. The drawings are accompanied by biographical information on the women who made them, enriching visitors’ experience of these stunning objects with contextual understanding of their historical and spiritual meanings.
The Museum is grateful to Hancock Shaker Village, which originated the exhibition and is lending these extraordinary works that have only rarely traveled to other venues. The exhibition also features work from AFAM’s holdings as well as material from public and private collections – including a selection of archival photographs from the New York State Museum.
EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMS
Wednesday September 18th, 2024 – Virtual Insights: Anticipating the Modern: The Innovative Aesthetics of Gameboards and Shaker Gift Drawings (online program)
Saturday November 16th, 2024 – Dialogue + Studio: Magic, Mysticism, and Creativity with Hilma’s Ghost (in-person workshop)
Thursday December 19th, 2024 – A Beautiful Stillness: Artists Mariam Ghani, Erin Ellen Kelly, Maria Molteni and Cauleen Smith in Conversation (online program)
Sunday January 26th, 2025 – Mystical Abstraction: Women, Spiritualism, and the Arts with Jennifer Higgie and Hilma’s Ghost (online program)
Lead support is provided by Nina Beaty and Julie Lindberg. Additional support is provided by the American Folk Art Society, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the David Davies and Jack Weeden Fund for Exhibitions.
Polly Jane Reed (1818–1881), A Type of Mother Hannah’s Pocket Handkerchief, New Lebanon, New York, 1851, Ink and watercolor on paper, 23 5/8 x 26 in. (framed), Andrews Collection, Hancock Shaker Village, Massachusetts, 63.126.1.
Polly Collins (1808–1884), An Emblem of the Heavenly Sphere, Hancock, Massachusetts, 1854, Ink and watercolor on paper, 31 11/16 x 26 1/8 in. (framed), Andrews Collection, Hancock Shaker Village, Massachusetts, 1963.113.
Hannah Cohoon (1788–1864), The Tree of Life, Hancock, Massachusetts, 1854, Ink and watercolor on paper, 25 3/25 x 29 13/16 in. (framed), Andrews Collection, Hancock Shaker Village, Massachusetts, 1963.117.
Oval Nesting Boxes, New Lebanon, New York, After 1875, Maple, pine, iron, copper, 2 3/4 x 6 x 4 in. (the largest), Collection of M. Stephen and Miriam R. Miller.
Lead support is provided by Nina Beaty and Julie Lindberg. Additional support is provided by the American Folk Art Society, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the David Davies and Jack Weeden Fund for Exhibitions.