Contemplation: A Portrait of manitoga

By Carlton Davis

June 13 – nov 15, 2026

This season, Manitoga / The Russel Wright Design Center presents Contemplation: A Portrait of Manitoga, by Hudson Valley-based photographer Carlton Davis within Dragon Rock House and Studio. Davis spent many seasons contemplating the buildings, interiors and woodland gardens of Manitoga – at sunrise and sunset, in full moon, rain and snow, as spring blossomed and autumn quietly fell. His photos capture both Manitoga's majesty and its intimacy from panoramic views of Mary's Meadow and the Quarry landscape to the intricate details and patterns of ferns, leaves, moss and stone. Davis experiments with scale and format in unique dialogue with the interior spaces to our surprise and delight.

A WORD FROM CARLTON DAVIS

“This body of work is the result of an ongoing “conversation” between Russel Wright, Dragon Rock, Manitoga, and myself…Upon my initial visit to Dragon Rock, I, like many others, was deeply impressed and genuinely moved by the beauty of the space and the creative vision of Russel Wright. At the same time, I felt an unexpected sense of allure, as though the interplay between human intention and the natural environment created a quiet invitation to explore more deeply. That sense of “invitation” became the starting point for a journey of inquiry that unfolded over a year and a half, ultimately culminating in this project…

Inspired by Wright’s integration of design, nature, and unconventional materials, I set out to explore the unique character of Manitoga. Over the course of a year and a half, I returned repeatedly, producing photographs across all four seasons, from the pale light of dawn to the stillness of a full moon. Although several visits yielded no images, these quiet, contemplative intervals proved essential, allowing time for observation without predetermined intent. Whether examining intimate textures or expansive landscapes, the work invites viewers to engage more deliberately, fostering an experience in which calm and discovery converge, and offering an opportunity to reflect upon the beauty and mystery that permeate the natural world.”

— Carlton Davis

On view June 13 through Nov 15, 2026 with Tour Participation and during special programs and events.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Carlton Davis began to explore the camera and its capabilities at sixteen, nurturing his talents in school clubs and at a local photo lab. He studied photography in Rhode Island before moving to New York and further refining his skill and craft as a photographer’s assistant. After three years assisting, Davis opened his own photography studio in 1990, where he has built a very successful career. In 2025, Davis presented a solo exhibition, Humble Beauty, at LABspace in Hillsdale, NY which showcased his strength for identifying and sensitively capturing the extraordinary complexity of the seemingly mundane. Reviewed by David Ebony for Upstate Diary.

The 2026 Art + Design Residency is made possible through support from the Sara Little Turnbull Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Manitoga’s Board of Directors, Leadership Council, Design Circle and the 2026 Art & Design Host Committee.