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When artist Alexandra Limpert invited Janet Rutkowski to co-curate Reclamation in honor of her longtime friend and Holland Tunnel founder Paulien Lethen, Rutkowski accepted without hesitation. Although she had just finished curating and exhibiting in several projects, she embraced the challenge with what she describes as her “devil-may-care” approach. The exhibition’s title emerged quickly, reflecting her interest in the idea of recovery and renewal.
Reclamation was conceived around the use of found and reclaimed materials. The show brings together Hudson Valley artists who relocated from Brooklyn and New York, alongside those who remained in the city. This duality echoes the trajectory of Holland Tunnel Gallery itself, founded in Williamsburg in 1997 and expanded to Newburgh in 2018. For Rutkowski, the project became about relationships, reconnecting with artists from the Williamsburg and Greenpoint scene of the 1980s—many of whom she had not worked with or spoken to in decades.
Visitors entering the gallery are immediately struck by the large, bright space. The exhibition features works ranging from abstraction to realism, including painting, sculpture, and photography. Beyond the main gallery, the newly opened sculpture garden extends the experience with outdoor works in a variety of materials, set in a spacious, landscaped environment.
The character of the exhibition is defined by the transformation of discarded materials into art objects. The power of rusted steel, with its textures and color variations, is evident in works such as Untitled by Alexandra Limpert, Kabuki by Mark Gibian, Emerge by Damon Hamm, and Blow Torch Drawings on Zinc by Marieken Cochius. In contrast, Alison McNulty uses uncovered paint chips and spider webs to create fragile and contemplative pieces. Other artists demonstrate ingenuity by transforming everyday objects—chairs, tools, wood, stones, wires, plastic bags—into something unexpected. As Rutkowski describes it, the process is alchemical: turning cast-off materials into something precious.
The history of Holland Tunnel Gallery provides important context for Reclamation. In 1997, Paulien Lethen organized the first show in her Williamsburg garden shed during the Williamsburg Open Studio Tour, presenting her own work alongside that of friends. The New York Times soon described the space as “one of the quirkiest in Williamsburg” and “the tiniest gallery in the metropolitan area.” In 2000, Lethen, together with her sister Heleen Schuttevaêr, opened a summer extension on the island of Paros, Greece. From 2004 to 2020, she staged large-scale “Stairmasters” projects in the staircase of her house next to the Williamsburg gallery. In 2018, Holland Tunnel expanded to Newburgh, continuing its mission of connecting artists and communities.
Beyond her own artistic practice, Lethen consistently sought to create platforms for others, combining accessibility with ambition. September–November 2023 marked the final exhibition of Holland Tunnel Newburgh, closing a chapter of more than 26 years. Yet her hope remains that an organization, foundation, or museum will take on the space and adjoining sculpture garden to ensure it continues as a cultural resource for the community.
Reclamation speaks directly to that legacy. By foregrounding reclaimed materials and reuniting artists across time and place, the show underscores the enduring value of reinvention and exchange. What began in a Williamsburg shed extended to Greece, Brooklyn staircases, and finally Newburgh. The gallery’s history, and this exhibition within it, suggest not an ending but the possibility of transformation into something new.
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Reclamation at Holland Tunnel Gallery
46 Chambers Street, Newburgh, NY @ hollandtunnelnewburgh
The show will run through October 26th with a closing party and performance by Ken Butler with his Hybrid Instruments
Other events will be announced.
Co-Curators: Alexandra Limpert @ alexandralimpertsculpture
Janet Rutkowski @steelyjan38_bfdstudios
Featuring artists: @ewaraujo, @albertomarcosbursztyn, @hybridluthery, @mariekencochius, @viviencollens, @alejandrodron, @marylouisegeering, @gerbography, @markgibian, @damon.hamm, @elizabethknowles_art, @ juliea_lindell, @scrapdaptations, @nestorartstudio, @atelierwdstk_hudsonvalley, @carriskoczek, @judythomas.art, @rumitsuda