PREVIEW: Public art exhibition Powers House Revel returns to Troy for its second year
09/05 - 09/06 @ 415 2nd Avenue, Troy
Photo provided by PHR
“There are no boundaries between art and environment, artist and audience, looking and participating, and even exhibition and social gathering… we wanted to be playful, festive, and very physical.”
Even before August rolls into September, everyone has already spent weeks lamenting summer’s end. That’s it, no more outdoor fun. I fall for this premature autumn propaganda every year, but there’s still plenty of mild days ahead. High on the priority list to hit up as the warm days wind down is Powers House Revel (PHR). A free outdoor art event that’s open to the public, it’s one of the last gasps of the summertime spirit.
Even before August rolls into September, everyone has already spent weeks lamenting summer’s end. That’s it, no more outdoor fun. I fall for this premature autumn propaganda every year, but there’s still plenty of mild days ahead. High on the priority list to hit up as the warm days wind down is Powers House Revel (PHR). A free outdoor art event that’s open to the public, it’s one of the last gasps of the summertime spirit.
“Visitors are not entering a traditional exhibition space. Instead, they’re greeted by an open green space that stretches all the way to the water, with large inflatable works and sculptures immediately creating a sense that something unexpected is happening in this familiar house setting,” says Daniela Kostova, an artist and one of the founding membersof Powers House Revel.
“To me the surprise, or breaking away from routine, is an essential part of art making, so this is an important premise!” Kostova adds.
For two days, more than 20 artists from NYC, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital Region come together to blend performance art, art installations, workshops, and musical performances together in one location, the historic Powers House in North Troy. The various works fill a majority of the space and allows visitors to do their own wayfinding through the private yard’s setting.
This kind of fluidity between art, artist, audience and setting, is at the center of the event’s ethos. And while their kick-off event last year focused on joining together artists from New York City and the Capital Region, this year’s exhibit expands a bit further.
“In [PHR’s] second year, we decided to be more open to where the artists came from. Though we still have many from the city and our region, the Hudson Valley has become so much more rich with artistic activity, so it was much easier to broaden our search,” remarks artist and founding member Adam Frelin.
The barrier-breaking that PHR seeks to deliver on for visitors’ individual experiences also works to dissolve the stuffiness of a typical art setting: “[The] Powers House grounds serve as a great equalizer, forcing fast-paced metropolitan views and local perspectives to adapt to the exact same physical reality — the open grass, the changing light, and the Hudson River,” artist and founding member Eun Young Choi points out.
As with any budding endeavor, the event continues to evolve.
“The event is really young. We’re only in our second year and just like a very young child, we’re still learning to walk,” says Meglena Zapreva, artist and founding member.
“We want to keep space for experimental and site-specific art as it was last year. We still envision a future of projects that invite the participation of all visitors. Our small team still pitches in money to finance the whole production.”
This year features an inflatable sculpture (The 8th Wonder) by renowned artists Michael Oatman and Brian Kane,in addition to installation work byJohn Umphlett, Tamar Ettun, an Albany Symphony Orchestra commissioned performance piece by Adam Frelin entitled Walking Stones, and experimental visual film art by Picture Lock One, as well as artist workshops. A main stage will host performances from 1 p.m., including Caity Gallagher, Ryder Cooley, Terry Conrad, Brian Dewan, Reality Distortion and much more.
Get lost (or find yourself again) while the nice weather lasts and before we all retreat back inside to studio spaces and museums!
PHR 2026 CONFIRMED ARTISTS
Deyva Arthur | Angelyn Chandler | Eun Young Choi | Eva Davidova | Tamar Ettun Adam Frelin Julien Gardair | Brian Kane | Daniela Kostova | Colin Lyons | Michael Oatman + Brian Kane Picture Lock One | Phoebe Rotter Jeremiah Teipen | John Umphlett | Melanie Vote | Allie Wist | Meglena Zapreva
The ARCHTOBER Collective: Kyle + Graciela Engstrom | Avner BenNatan | Yael Erel | Corey Aldrich | Ethan Carmody
PERFORMANCES
Goth Folk Singer Ryder Cooley | Historic Poetics with Accompaniment Brian Dewan | Experiment Sound Duo Dunnage | Yacht Rock Meets Yurt Rock The Junies | Singer Songwriter Caity Gallagher | Dream Pop Grunge Trio Reality Distortion | Site Specific Modern Dance Frances Teppner + Kaity Combs | DJs Space Time, Space and Time DJ’s groop.lab
The event is free and open to the public. A sliding-scale, suggested donation of $5 to $25 will be gratefully accepted for those who wish to support the event. On Sunday, there will be a potluck Communal Table event.
Powers House Revel will take place on Saturday, September 5 between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Sunday, September 6 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 415 2nd Avenue, Troy, New York.
For a full list of scheduled programming, please check out the Facebook event page at: @powershouserevel
