Ti Arts to host art show featuring work from Ken Burns documentary

TICONDEROGA | As the 250th birth of the nation is celebrated nationally, the land between two waters has events lined up to commemorate America's founding. Ti Arts Downtown Gallery will throw its hand in the ring and roll out a show unlike any before it; for those who love art and history, this is an event not to be missed. On Saturday, June 13, IMAGES FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will debut within the gallery at 119 Montcalm Street. The opening reception begins at 5 p.m. and runs through 7 p.m., and visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces of historical art that haven't been- nor will they be- available anyplace else. "We wanted to be part of the celebration, and we are doing this to commemorate the anniversary," noted Ti Arts Board of Directors member Steve Miller. "These works of art will be available exclusively at Ti Arts." What makes each piece special is the fact they were created for the acclaimed documentary series "The American Revolution," by Ken Burns, Florentine Films, and WETA. Last fall, Miller, a history buff with an eye for the remarkable, watched the entire series from start to finish. Upon his viewing, he was immediately struck by the abundance of beautiful, unique artwork the documentary featured, and wondered if it would be possible to bring that magic to Ticonderoga. He contacted the two artists who helped bring the documentary visually to life, professional watercolorists Greg Harlin and Rob Woods, both based in Annapolis, MD. Though both were immediately open to the idea, there was another hoop Miller needed to jump through to bring his vision to life. "In order for us to be able to exhibit them, I had to contact Ken Burns and Florentine Films to get permission to do that," he recounted. "They had the rights to the artwork." Permission was granted, and Ti Arts began sorting through 50-100 images they thought best represented the story and of Ticonderoga's connection to the War for Independence, landing on 18 masterpieces that depict various events of the Revolution. "These are not being shown anywhere else, we have these reproduced one-of-a-kind by the artists and each will be archivally framed and matted, ready for display and to become a conversation piece in people's homes and local businesses. "These are collector's items," Miller emphasized. "They will come in three sizes; the smallest is 12"x 16", the majority are 12"x 20", and the largest is 12"x 32". With framing, they will all be several inches beyond that." The gallery has also enlisted local involvement in bringing the show to life. "We have had people write up a description of each image that will be shown," Miller revealed. "Some of those have been done by local historians, educators, and various community residents interested in American history. It has been very interesting to see how everyone's writing style is different and how they are approaching each of the pictures. It's been fun to read them." The exhibit will be funded in part by a generous donation from Sylvamo. In conjunction with the show and in collaboration with Fort Ticonderoga, Ti Arts Gallery will host not one but two inclusive lectures, one for adults and another for children. On Wednesday, July 8, the fort's curator, Matthew Keagle, Ph.D. will present "From Paper to Place: Revolutionary Connections" at 7 p.m. On Sunday, July 14, the fort's VP of Public History, Stuart Lilie, will present "A Soldier's Life: A Hands-On Trip to Ticonderoga in 1776" at 10:30 a.m. to the younger crowd. According to Miller, Ti Arts will also be holding an art contest during the remainder of 2026 to continue the 250th celebration. Local students will be encouraged to submit Revolutionary War-inspired artwork. "If kids come to the show and get inspired, or are learning about the subject in class or get inspired visiting Fort Ticonderoga, we are encouraging them to create pieces of art that reflect that," Miller said. The contest will culminate in a displayed show at the gallery, and prize money will be up for grabs. Planning is still underway and dates are to be determined. "I'm looking forward to people learning about the American Revolution and being part of the overall celebration that is going on in town," Miller said. "We are hoping to draw people from outside of the area as well." Complimentary refreshments will be served at the opening. IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will run from June 13 through July 18. Ti Arts Downtown Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is completely free to drop in and enjoy, and all are welcome and encouraged to stop in. For membership information, a calendar of events, shows, updates, and upcoming classes and workshops, please visit https://www.ticonderogaarts.org/ or follow the Ti Arts Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TiconderogaDowntownGallery.

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Ti Arts to host art show featuring work from Ken Burns documentary

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