Semine Hazar & Barbara Todd

This artwork celebrates Lighthouses of New York (The Esopus Meadows and the Little Red Lighthouses), which are recognized landmarks with symbolic and aesthetic qualities, including distinct architectural characteristics located in picturesque settings. These lighthouses are now lovingly preserved and open to the public, evoking feelings of hope, guidance, resilience, and revival. Their depiction in Semine’s painting and Barbara’s photography captures New York’s coastal landscapes and maritime history, as once these lighthouses played a crucial role in the region's environmental and naval history, guiding ships and enabling trade and transportation. The artwork highlights important aspects of the region's past and its adaptation to technological advances with a strong connection to the Hudson River School, America's first art movement, which celebrated the beauty of New York and its surrounding landscapes.

For this artwork titled "NY's Lighthouses," Barbara presents the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse with a stunning sky reflection at a moment when the Hudson is still. Barbara enjoys how reflections add drama and dimensionality to her work as she explores and finds new beauty and directions in the light and shadow of the Hudson Valley, which she adores.

“It's been a very rewarding experience shooting the lighthouses of the Hudson, both as a photographic challenge and a thrilling opportunity to bask in the beauty of the river and its wonders. For many years as a commuter to Manhattan, I rode the Hudson line, and the view never failed to fascinate me in any kind of weather. It has been such a joy to explore places I had only whizzed by on a train until now. Through my work, I hope to share the engagement of my senses with these historic and beautiful places.

My photography and my aesthetic sense have been deeply influenced by growing up in the Hudson River Valley, with its characteristic amber light captured by the Hudson River School artists in the mid-nineteenth century - and now impacted by the increasing particulate matter and weather effects associated with pollution and climate change. I have always felt that the river restores my inner peace and balance, and the lighthouses symbolize hope in these times. As the river rises, ”we shall see how they fare,” explained Barbara Todd.