CANTON – The grand opening of newly renovated TAUNY Center will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TAUNY is celebrating the opening with two new exhibits. "Kindred Pursuits: Folk Art in North Country Life," an exhibit of contemporary and historical folk art from the entire North Country curated by Varick Chittenden, is the first comprehensive exploration of the visual folk art of the region as interpreted by folklorists and ethnographers.

Chittenden explains that, "Rather than treat the objects as art for art's sake as in typical art museum presentations, the exhibit places them in the context of ethnic, occupational, religious, recreational, and regional values and tastes, and examines the motivations or inspirations of the artists for producing them." About 80 examples will be on display, from quilts and weather vanes to memory paintings and whimsical sculpture made with found objects.

Also marking the grand opening is an exhibit that traces TAUNY's history as an organization. "TAUNY at 25: A Retrospective" showcases the organization's story -- from a home office enterprise to a well-regarded regional institution.

Over the past 25 years, TAUNY staff and associates have developed more than 40 exhibits, hosted hundreds of public programs, created educational online units on a variety of North Country subjects, and participated in dozens of state-wide or multi-state events.

The Retrospective includes art and objects from past exhibits, photos and information from programs and displays, and brochures and other printed materials that span the last 25 years.