The James Cox Gallery at Woodstock will kick off its 2025 show season with an exhibit of archival pigment prints by photographer Kelly Sinclair. Titled “Overlook Mountain”, the 20 black and white photographs showcased in the exhibit document the artist’s regular treks up the iconic mountain trail….past the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House, a 19th century hotel…to the peak, with its sweeping views of the Catskills. The exhibit opens Friday, April 4th and will continue through May 2nd.
Sinclair describes the project as a “heartfelt thanks” to Overlook for the challenge climbing the mountain presents and for the sense of accomplishment she feels when reaching the summit. “It is the mountain that keeps on giving,” she added.
Sinclair first climbed Overlook Mountain 30 years ago when she and her husband moved to their present home in the Woodstock. The demands of raising two young boys and running a family business, Happylife Productions, with her husband Mike DuBois left little time for Sinclair to climb the mountain as often as she does now. It was during the pandemic that she (and many other hikers) began to make regular excursions to the top of the 3,130 foot mountain. Since then she has set a goal of climbing Overlook once a week. “It is a way to stay physically active while enjoying the beauty of nature,” she explained.
Along the way, carrying her Fuji Film X-T3 digital camera, Sinclair has documented a uniquely intimate vision of Overlook. “Walking Sticks” is an example of how the photographer can capture more than meets the eye in her work. What most would see as an ordinary pile of twigs Sinclair realized were tree branches hikers used to reach the summit of Overlook, discarding the “walking sticks” in a small heap on the way back down the slope.
The ruins of the once bustling Overlook Mountain House, located near the summit of Overlook, provide Sinclair with a wealth of interesting compositions. “Arch” features the entryway to the hotel framing the decaying stone walls of the interior, while “Sunrise” depicts shimmering light bursting through one of the hotel windows.
Sinclair always begins her climb up Overlook at around seven in the morning when few others are around. “I almost have the mountain to myself,” she quipped, adding that she especially loves foggy mornings. Several pieces in the exhibit reflect this interest, including “After the Rain”. This simple, yet provocative, image features a small stream of rainwater snaking along the mountain trail bathed in misty early morning light.
Of course the breathtaking vistas one encounters at the summit of Overlook also intrigue the artist. “Precipice” features a flat rock at the peak jutting into a sea of white clouds, while “Catskills” takes in the majestic sweep of the mountain range, one of the oldest in the world. Sinclair especially relishes the opportunity to observe the view at dawn. “It takes a lot of effort,” Sinclair noted, “but it’s awe inspiring to see the sun rise from the top of Overlook. I try to do it several times a year.”
The photographer has also had some interesting experiences on these ventures. “I’ve heard coyotes and barred owls in the pre-morning darkness…I’ve nearly stepped on rattlesnakes, which has taught me to stay alert.” She cautions fellow hikers to “Stay on the trail folks!”
The sanctity of nature is also uppermost in Sinclair’s mind when hiking Overlook. She has observed a diverse array of plants that grow on the mountain, including some she hasn’t encountered anywhere else. Her next project involves making cyanotypes of these species. The technique is a camera-less method that uses a solution of iron salts and UV light to create stunning Prussian blue images of leaves and flowers.
In keeping with her respect for nature, Sinclair often photographs the debris thoughtless hikers leave along the Overlook trail. On the way back down the mountain she collects the plastic bottles, dog bags and other discarded belongings that litter the otherwise pristine landscape.
All of the pieces in the Cox Gallery exhibit are printed in black and white. Though Sinclair uses a digital camera, she converts her work to grayscale on her computer. “Black and white coveys more mood and mystery and heightens the sense of solitude, especially on misty morning,” She observed.
Sinclair studied Sociology and Visual Arts at SUNY Purchase and graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Sociology. She has exhibited at some the Hudson Valley’s finest art venues, including the Kleinert Gallery, Woodstock; Woodstock Artists Association and Museum; the Center for Photography, Kingston; and the Art Society of Kingston’s annual photography show. Her work was recently featured in a one person exhibit, “Full Bloom – In our Fifties,” at the Queen of Rogues in Shokan, NY.
The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the artist Friday, April 4th, from 5 to 7 p.m. The James Cox Gallery is located at 4666 State Route 212, Willow, NY. For more information email the gallery at info@jamescoxgallery.com or call 845-679-7608.