Karl Nussbaum: Ghost Dance for America, 1890, at Hudson Hall, NY
Inspired by the Zoetrope and the Daguerreotype Diorama, Karl Nussbaum surrounds viewers with a 25-foot ring of suspended translucent scrim in Hudson Hall’s historic theatre. The film rotates across the surface, enveloping visitors and their shadows inside the projected history itself.
Exhibition Dates: June 25 – July 5, 2026
Artist Talk: Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 3 PM
Stills from "Ghost Dance for America, 1890." Courtesy of the artist.
The installation takes its title from the Ghost Dance, a spiritual movement that spread among Native American communities in the late nineteenth century in response to the U.S. government’s terrorism and brutal westward expansion.
Wovoka, a Northern Paiute spiritual leader, prophesied that the Ghost Dance would reunite the living with the spirits of their ancestors and restore peace, prosperity, and unity. Emerging from a period of profound violence and displacement, the movement carried a vision of resistance and restoration.
In conjunction with Upstate Art Weekend, Hudson Hall will present Persistence of Vision, an artist talk with Karl Nussbaum, on Sunday, June 28 at 3 PM. Taking place inside the installation itself, the conversation will explore its historical references, visual language, and the process behind its creation. More information.
"Ghost Dance for America, 1890," video still. Courtesy of the artist.
Artist Talk
Join artist Karl Nussbaum on Upstate Art Weekend on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 3 PM for an inside look at the making of Ghost Dance for America, 1890 . Nussbaum will discuss the inspiration, creation, and meaning behind the captivating video installation, offering insight into both its historical roots and its immersive form.