James Prosek Brings Watercolors and Wild Grasses to the Hopper House

On June 12, the Edward Hopper House Museum in Nyack opens its doors to "Memory, Trees & Shadows," a new exhibition by James Prosek — an artist, writer, and naturalist whose work sits somewhere between field guide and fine art. The show runs May 8 through October 4, so there's a long window to catch it, but the June opening is a good reason to plan a visit sooner rather than later.

Prosek is known for working at the intersection of science and aesthetics, and this exhibition reflects that. More than twenty new works are on view, including watercolors of native grasses, plein air canvases painted outdoors in front of the landscape, and sculptures that push the work into three dimensions. The central question running through the show — how we classify, name, and ultimately communicate our relationship to the natural world — lands with particular resonance at the Hopper House, a museum dedicated to an artist who spent his life wrestling with light, place, and the American landscape.

The Hopper House itself is worth knowing about if you're new to the county. It's the birthplace and childhood home of Edward Hopper, tucked into a residential block in Nyack, and it functions as both a historic site and an active contemporary art space. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow visit — not a rush-through, but an afternoon.

The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, though appointments can be made for tours those days. Wednesday through Friday it's open 1 to 5 p.m., and on weekends noon to 5 p.m. That Saturday or Sunday midday slot pairs naturally with a walk through Nyack's downtown afterward.

This exhibition is a good fit for people drawn to natural history, contemporary painting, or ecological themes in art — but also for anyone who wants a substantive cultural outing without driving far from Rockland. For hours, directions, and more on the show, see the full listing.