September 5, 2026–February 14, 2027

Infrastructure mediates the movement of people, ideas, and things across space and time, making it a site for the collective construction of Poughkeepsie’s identity. From train stations to parks, basketball courts to bridges, the built environment shapes our daily lives, influences how we understand ourselves, and helps us come to conclusions about the cultural and social significance of place. The city’s identity and history are enshrined in its landmarks, which stand as living monuments to the past while simultaneously creating our present lived experience. This small exhibition explores how the built landscapes we live, work, play, and travel in shape our realities. Can we be connected to neighbors, both past and future, through our use of shared infrastructure?

Common Ground: Art and Infrastructure in Poughkeepsie was organized by 2026 Ford Scholar/Pindyck Summer Fellow, Beatrix Bagin, Vassar College class of 2027. Support for Spotlight is provided by Mary Ellen Weisl Rudolph ’61, P ’98, and James N. Rudolph, P ’98.