Opening Reception: Portraits of Hudson: A Photography Exhibition by Chad Weckler
Portraits of Hudson: A Photography Exhibition by Chad Weckler
Opening Friday, May 9, 2025, 5pm-7pm at The Spark of Hudson
Step inside Portraits of Hudson, a photographic exhibition by Chad Weckler that celebrates the artists, visionaries, and behind-the-scenes champions who shape the creative spirit of Hudson. Displayed throughout The Spark building, this series features striking environmental portraits accompanied by short biographies of Hudsonians who have used creativity to uplift and transform their community.
Over the course of a year, Chad Weckler photographed more than 100 individuals using a large-format 4×5 view camera, a process that invites presence, collaboration, and intention. Each portrait is a window into a story—of musicians, writers, painters, dancers, organizers, and quiet supporters—whose creative efforts ripple across the city.
“More than a portrait series—this is a love letter to a place and its people.”
— Hudson Valley Times
“Weckler’s analog method slows us down and demands attention—a rare and welcome thing in the digital age.”
— The Photography Review
“This work reveals the connective tissue of a town that has long attracted and sustained the creative spirit.”
— The Upstate Chronicle
This exhibition is part of Chad Weckler’s ongoing Creative-Exposure: Portraits of Hudson project, which culminated in a book of portraits and an earlier gallery show at Private Public Gallery. The Spark is honored to host a new iteration of this deeply local project, showcasing all portraits across our spaces—from the library and stairwells to quiet corners and common rooms.
Creative-Exposure: Portraits of Hudson will be available for sale for the duration of the exhibition.
About the Artist
Chad Weckler has been a commercial and fine art photographer for over 45 years. A native of Sausalito, California and a graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photographic Sciences, Weckler began his career in New York City and now lives in the Hudson Valley. His work has spanned studio photography, teaching, festivals, and fine art. He’s a long-time presence in Hudson’s arts scene and brings both technical mastery and deep community connection to this project.
