The Hudson Valley is no stranger to artistic ambition. But even in a region bursting with creativity, Opus 40 stands alone—literally. A sprawling, 6.5-acre labyrinth of sculpted bluestone, built by hand over nearly four decades by artist and quarryman Harvey Fite, it emerges from the Saugerties landscape like some ancient ruin from an undiscovered civilization. Yet Opus 40 isn’t frozen in time. With a 60-acre expanse of meadows, quarry trails, and woodland surrounding the massive sculpture, this place doesn’t just sit—it moves. And in 2025, it moves more than ever.
This year’s season transforms the site once again into a full-fledged cultural destination. Live music from across the globe, silent discos under the stars, geology walks that unravel millions of years of history, film screenings, theater, yoga, qi gong, and hands-on bluestone workshops all turn Opus 40 into a living, breathing work of art. And with new programming partners—The Local curating concerts, Shakti Yoga leading wellness sessions, and Jen Dragon of Cross Contemporary Art Projects curating the gallery—Opus 40 is ready to show just how dynamic stone can be.
“We’re excited to work alongside these top-notch partners and widen Opus 40’s creative community presence,” says Brigid Walsh, board co-chair. “As an organization, we stay true to Harvey Fite’s vision that the arts are for everyone, and look forward to sharing the magnificent sculpture he created and the spectacular forested landscape that surrounds it with visitors this year.”
Music in the Quarry: A Global Soundtrack
Opus 40 has long played host to musical legends—Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Sun Ra Arkestra, and Jimmy Cliff—who have all left their mark on its stone. This summer’s lineup continues that legacy, crisscrossing continents and genres to bring a soundtrack as rich and varied as the landscape itself:
June 7: Silent Disco – A headphone-powered dance party where you choose the DJ.
July 6: Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – A 12-piece Swiss band blending krautrock, post-punk, and African rhythms into a hypnotic groove machine.
July 12: Upstate Reggae: Jimmy Cliff Birthday Celebration with DisnDat – Featuring Trinidadian steel pan virtuoso Sista Dee and Grammy-nominated drummer Rangotan.
July 18: Yeison Landero – Cumbia royalty from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, keeping the rhythm alive.
August 3: BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) – Afro-psychedelic punk-funk from Soweto, South Africa. A heady mix of protest music and dancefloor fire.
August 17: C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band – Creole music at its finest, straight from the zydeco capital of the world.
August 23: Hudson Valley Celebration – An all-day showcase of local musicians, curated by guitarist and producer Jack Petruzzelli.
September 6: Silent Disco (Round 2) – Back for another round of wireless dancefloor bliss.
Walk, Talk, and Wander: Guided Nature and History Tours
Opus 40 isn’t just an artistic wonder—it’s a geological marvel. Formed from ancient seabeds, reshaped by human hands, and now home to a vibrant ecosystem, the land itself tells a story. This season’s guided walks offer a chance to explore those stories, whether through the lens of science, history, or sheer sensory appreciation:
April 13: Woodland Walk with Wild Hudson Valley
May 4: Mindful Birding with the Feminist Bird Club’s Molly Adams
May 25: Foraging Walk with herbalist Dina Falconi
June 22, July 20, August 24, September 21, October 12: Mushroom Walks with forager Chris Baker
June 29, July 26, August 30, September 20: Geology Walks with Robert Titus
Film, Theater, and More
Music may echo through the quarry, but Opus 40’s cultural programming doesn’t stop there. This year, Upstate Films brings a two-night open-air film screening (May 23–24), turning the sculpture into a natural amphitheater under the stars. The Catskill Shakespeare Company will stage live theater (May 4), proving that the Bard’s words can still resonate between the stones.
For those who prefer active participation, weekly yoga and qi gong classes offer a more meditative experience among the monolithic walls. And for the artistically inclined, Opus 40’s hands-on bluestone workshops invite visitors to channel their inner Harvey Fite, learning the fundamentals of dry-stone masonry and creating their own small-scale tributes to this unparalleled site.
A Monument That Moves
Opus 40 can be deceiving. At first glance, it appears fixed, an unmoving testament to one man’s vision. But spend time here—watch the shifting shadows as the sun moves overhead, listen to the echoes of laughter and music, feel the stone’s warmth at midday and its cool embrace by evening—and you realize that this place never stands still.
This season, Opus 40 is more alive than ever. It’s a dance floor, a concert hall, a meditation retreat, an open-air classroom, and a stage for both history and possibility. Whether you come to explore its winding terraces, lose yourself in the music, or simply sit and let the quarry speak, one thing is certain: You won’t leave unchanged.
This article appears in March 2025.
