“[The garden] did have magic—the magic of surprise, the treasure hunt….”

--Derek Jarman from Derek Jarman’s Garden

In Hidden Gardens, the artists of ad hoc projects have tried to embody the idea that a garden can be any place in which one experiences magic. A place that offers the possibility of discovery, be it internal or external. An encounter where there’s always the element of surprise. The work in the show combines kinetic energy, radiant color, and a playful point of view that offers the promise of spring in the dead of winter and a “treasure hunt” for all who wish to partake.

ad hoc projects was born in 2018, when a group of upstate New York artists presented a pop-up show called “The Truth Is Not the Truth” or What You Think You See May Not Be What You’re Seeing. All thirteen participants not only wanted to bring challenging, provocative work to the area, they also liked the idea of utilizing a variety of venues, which so far have included empty commercial spaces and storefront windows as well as traditional galleries. With the arrival of the corona virus, the group decided to create a website and launch a virtual gallery, as well. Whatever the prevailing conditions, ad hoc projects, true to its original mission, will always try to present fresh, thought-provoking projects, inside, outside, and online.