Faces of courage: The one show at AIHA you can’t miss

Happy Monday, Capital Region! Today, we’re making sure you know about the must-see show at the Albany Institute of History & Art—Americans Who Tell the Truth.

Btw, we goofed last week and ran a graphic for the TroyAsia Night Market with the wrong date (last year’s). This is how you know this newsletter ain’t AI—we still make very human errors 😂 

Also, based on your feedback, we’ve decided to keep running the music listings on both days (Mon & Thu) even though the majority of readers (75%) said only Mondays was OK by them. Enough people said they would miss it on Thursdays that we’re gonna keep it as is, for now.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Faces of courage: The one show at AIHA you can’t miss

If you haven’t seen the Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art, you need to do so pronto—and definitely before it closes on July 20.

We recently spoke with the show’s curator, Diane Shewchuk, about how this remarkable exhibition came together in just a few short months.

“We had a blank spot in the exhibition calendar, and I wasn’t sure how to fill it,” Diane tells us. “Then, around 10 pm one night last fall, I got a text from my friend Erika Sanger, the executive director of Opera House Arts in Stonington, Maine. She had just met an artist named Robert Shetterly and told me, ‘You need to show this project.’ And, she was right.”

With that late-night message, a scheduling gap quickly turned into one of the museum’s most thought-provoking and culturally relevant exhibitions. The show features 42 of Shetterly’s candid, exquisitely painted portraits of American activists, educators, whistleblowers, and others who have taken heroic stands for justice. A longtime editorial cartoonist and illustrator, Shetterly has been working on this series for more than two decades.

How did Diane narrow Shetterly’s collection of 280 portraits down to the several dozen works that are shown?

“Some were people I’ve long admired; others I had never heard of,” she explains. “I spent hours reading through the biographies on the project’s website, which is comprehensive and thoughtfully organized. You can explore all 280 portraits there.”

Diane’s selections include musician/activist Pete Seeger, whose portrait opens this intelligent and deeply approachable exhibit with rich shades of blue; Frank Serpico, who exposed corruption in the NYPD (and was played by Al Pacino in the movie); Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood; local contemporary activists like Leah Penniman, founder of Soul Fire Farm, right here in the Capital Region; and civil rights leaders such as Bayard Rustin.

“I enjoyed arranging the portraits throughout the galleries,” she says. “I imagined them in conversation with one another.”

Diane also had a direct hand in commissioning the newest addition to the project: a portrait of Dr. Alice P. Green (1940–2024), the late founder and director of the Center for Law and Justice in Albany.

The portraits are done in thin, translucent layers of oil paint, reminiscent of Renaissance glazing, laid over rich, saturated backgrounds. Each portrait includes a quote from the subject, which Shetterly scratches into the surface rather than painting it—an approach that adds texture, depth, and a sense of urgency to the work.

For First Friday Albany this week, the museum will have extended hours and free admission. It’s a perfect opportunity to view this timely and resonant exhibition. This event also features cocktails from the Larkin Hi-Fi and a flower arranging workshop, courtesy of Pepper Flora. It will be the last First Friday with free admission before the show closes, since there won’t be one in July.

A word from our sponsor

Back in 2001, Bill Soucy was one of the very first Geniuses ever hired by Apple, and the first person to join the team at the Capital Region’s Apple Store. These days, “my business is about keeping Macs out of the landfill,” Bill says.

We recently sent over a MacBook Pro for a screen repair and were pleasantly surprised by the super-fast service and affordable pricing. If you need to get work done on your Apple products, Dr. Soos is your guy 💪 He’s located in Rensselaer.

Summer is hitting right on schedule as the first week of June is gonna make us sweat. Break out your shorts as temps rise into the mid-80s midweek, and expect some thunderstorms as the workweek comes to a close. This weekend dazzles with potential, as we might—fingers crossed—finally see one without rain for the first time since November 😲 

👮‍♂️ The man who left Shogun Sushi & Sake Bar co-owner Su Wen Zheng with severe brain injuries after attempting to dine and dash has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Lucas Healey was found guilty of first-degree assault and robbery during a four-day trial in January. Su is still recovering from the brutal attack, which nearly cost him his life. [CBS 6 News]

👷‍♂️ This is just tragic and a reminder that we all need to slow down around highway workers: Robert Bornt, 54, a beloved 22-year veteran of the DOT who also served as the Hoosick Falls Village Fire Chief, died Friday after being struck by a car on Route 7 in Pittstown. “This is very personal and distressing for all of us," says Janet Spitz, of Hoosick Falls Jewelry. [News10]

🚒 In case you missed it, two 14-year-old kids (a boy and a girl) have been arrested and charged with arson after a devastating blaze engulfed the old Victory Mill in Victory Mills on Saturday. Even though the 180-year-old landmark gives the village its name, the structure had long been abandoned and was being prepped for demolition. File this one under, “The dumbest thing I did when I was 14.” The story was even featured on People.com.

🚍️ Funny story of the week: A coach bus hits a parked car in front of the NYS Museum. When state troopers are called out to investigate, the driver gets out of the bus, forgets to put on his brakes, and the bus rolls into the side of the museum 🤦 File this under, “The dumbest thing I did as a bus driver.” See the bus in question [Reddit]

Mid-century mod meets Florida dreaming with this homey lakefront property that includes 61 feet of prime, panoramic frontage on Saratoga Lake. Step out from your patio and right into the water, or take off on your boat from the 80-foot dock for a sunset cruise or an early morning fishing trip. This sweet setting offers endless ways to enjoy the good life. Just 10 minutes from the Saratoga Racecourse and downtown Saratoga. Recent upgrades include wall-mounted AC and heat units in nearly every room for year-round comfort. But you’ll likely want to update the bathrooms and kitchen to turn this lakefront prize into a true beauty.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1536 sf. Asking: $819,000. Days on market: 4. See the full listing here. 

👨‍🌾 The Clifton Park Farmers Market opens for the season today.

🐎 As part of the Belmont Stakes Festival, Belmont on Broadway brings the Gin Blossoms to Saratoga for a free show on Wednesday. Expect a huge crowd for this!

🎸 On Thursday, the first Alive at Five concert of the summer season kicks off with Queensrÿche and Albany’s own stone rockers Gozer.

🎻 Saratoga’s Mostly Modern Festival features 10 concerts over 15 days, starting Thursday.

🎷 Also Thursday, Schenectady’s Jazz on Jay opens for the season, featuring the Dylan Canterbury Quintet.

🖼️ The theme for this month’s First Friday Albany is “Love & Pride.” Come out to see popup art shows and musical performances happening all around the city. See the full schedule of events here.

Btw, in case you missed it, Metroland has been tapped as the new steward of First Friday. We’re excited to see what changes are in store for Albany’s monthly celebration of art & music.

As part of First Friday, the Albany Public Library and Opalka Gallery are celebrating the latest Art at APL exhibition, “Sight Specific,” at the Pine Hills branch.

🎬️ On Friday, Movie Under the Stars will screen “Mufasa” at Arbor Hill Elementary—assuming the weather holds up!

🎸 Also Friday, Troy Listening Room welcomes @metnomusic with Katie Martucci and special guest dancer Claire Cuny. (Read our story on Troy Listening Room here.)

🏳️‍🌈 On Saturday, In Our Own Voices presents Say It Loud! BIPOC Pride 2025 in Washington Park.

🎙️ The 2025 Improv Spaces Music Festival takes over the Round Lake Auditorium on Saturday.

🏃‍♀️Also Saturday, Ella Go invites you to join their Wellness Running Retreat for Women. For runners, walkers and run-walkers alike, this event benefits team-in-training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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