The Tang Museum at Skidmore College will open its new exhibition, "500 Dams," on September 26, 2026. The show centers on a twenty‑year grassland restoration effort and features the installation of five hundred small dam structures that illustrate the project's ecological impact.
Organizers describe the exhibition as a convergence of artistic practice and environmental science. By presenting the physical dams alongside visual works, the museum aims to make the long‑term restoration process tangible for visitors. The display underscores how community‑driven actions can reshape degraded landscapes over decades.
The project that inspired "500 Dams" began two decades ago when local volunteers and researchers began reestablishing native grasslands on former farmland near Saratoga Springs. Over the years, a series of earthen dams were constructed to manage water flow, promote biodiversity, and support the emerging ecosystem. The exhibition uses these structures as both subject and medium, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between human intervention and natural recovery.
As a cultural event preview, the opening signals the museum's ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary programming that bridges art and ecology. The Tang Museum expects the exhibit to draw audiences interested in environmental stewardship, regional history, and contemporary art. The show will remain on view for several months, providing ample opportunity for the Saratoga Springs community and visitors to engage with the story of the grassland restoration and the five hundred dams that symbolize its success.