The very word "Hudson" evokes images of sweeping vistas, idyllic towns and majestic ships. Yet how did we get here? What contributed to make the Hudson region one of the premiere heritage sites in American today?
These are the questions artist Len Tantillo strives to answer.

Considered one of the premiere historical painters of our time, Len's canvases offer glimpses into life throughout the last 400 years. From Mohawks returning from a winter hunt, to the sloop, Experiment, returning from its triumphant voyage to China, Len captures not the large grandiose moments in history, but the smaller, regional moments that define the Hudson and its people.

Hudson River Journeys is a documentary that explores the events of the past through the eyes of the artist today. Modern-day painter Len Tantillo, who believes our country has a wonderful and rich heritage that has been ingrained in us from our earliest years in school, wanted to paint that reality of the Hudson's heritage. However, by emphasizing the grandest events of our collective past, we often lose sight of the role that local communities played in forming the country we have today. The Husdon has been considered "America's First River" and there are literally millions of stories to be told about this historic waterway. Many are stories that have become mere footnotes in the pages of history. These are the stoies that Len paints.

Hudson River Journeys delves into these special moments in time. Historians and authors explain the events depicted in the paintings, starting with "The Trading House, 1615," which shows Fort Nassau, a building that historically marks the beginning of the development of New York State by Europeans. Each major period of change, right through the Industrial Age, is discussed and explored through paintings, drawings and artifacts.

Perhaps Len sums it up best by saying: "I believe that local and regional history are important and that by understanding and appreciating our history at a grassroots level we can deal more effectively with the future of our communities."

Hudson River Journeys is first and foremost a love story, a passionate look at the people and places, now and then, that made this region what it is today and what it will be tomorrow.

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