Art knocks at Peekskill’s door with the arrival of Conscience of a Nation, an exhibition by artist V.L. Cox, who quite literally used doors to place sensitive topics such as discrimination and human rights on the table. The show will be open at the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (Hudson Valley MOCA) from June 20 through September 30.

Cox is a multidisciplinary artist with more than 30 years of experience. Her work has been exhibited in various locations throughout New York, Alabama, and Virginia. Critical reception has been positive. This time, and for the first time in Peekskill, the show will be presented in collaboration with Studio Theater in Exile. It features the End Hate series, which uses doors from the segregation era to address these themes through art.

The initiative began in 2015 as a response to Arkansas House Bill 1228, known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was criticized for enabling discrimination under the guise of religious belief. By installing doors on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol and later at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the artist transformed her work into a viral symbol against hatred and intolerance.

During its run at MOCA, in addition to the End Hate series, other works by Cox will be on display. These pieces incorporate authentic and found objects to create artworks that reflect on historical events and human rights issues that remain relevant in the 21st century. These works will be exhibited throughout the museum galleries.

Additionally, on June 28 from 1 to 4:30 pm, an artist talk will be held at Studio Theater In Exile, where Cox will speak about the End Hate installation. In that same space, members of the Peekskill Creative Community will present performances and events inspired by Cox’s work. These include poetry readings and a new dance suite choreographed by Sharon Simmons Wright.

For more information about the exhibition and related events, please contact Hudson Valley MOCA at (914) 788-0100.