The Hudson Valley is known as an arts paradise. Whether they be visual, musical, or theatrical, the arts flourish far and wide. With such a wide range of talent and versatility, it can be hard to choose where to go. But don’t worry: Here are some of our must-hits.
In the Rondout area of Kingston lies the Arts Society of Kingston (ASK). More than its being just a visual art gallery, painting classes, workshops, and life drawing lessons are offered here. With its sole mission being to benefit the artists, art-lovers, and general community, you never know what you might find going on within—and on—its walls.
Over at SUNY New Paltz lives the Dorsky Museum of Art. While students exhibit their work here from time to time, established artists do as well. From June 10 to July 30 is “Undercurrents: The River as Metaphor / Hudson Valley Artists 2017,” a show centered around the theme of modernity and the Hudson River, will be exhibited. “Innovators and Activists: Celebrating Three Decades of New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships” fills the walls from August 30 until November 12.
In Beacon lies another museum, Dia:Beacon. Known for its unique collection of paintings, photography, multimedia, sculpture, and works on paper from the 1960s onward, the museum, situated in an old Nabisco factory, is as architecturally interesting as it is artistically.
Sculpture fans can revel in Opus 40, an awe-inspiring massive sculpture park in Saugerties. Created by one man, Harvey Fite, who worked on this masterpiece for 37 years, until a fall onto the quarry led to his death. Walking through, around, and over Opus 40’s 6.5 acres—from the deepest recesses (16 feet below ground) and up to the nine-ton monolith that is the center of the sculpture park—it’s hard to remember that the park is technically unfinished.
For theatrical lovers, there’s Half Moon Theater, a year-round production company that puts on cabaret and mainstage performances at the Culinary Institute of America. Performance readings are held in the Studio Theater in Poughkeepsie. Shadowland Stages in Ellenville is another professional theater company. From June to October, it will put on six different performances, beginning with Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off.” The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival comes to Boscobel tent in Garrison, June 8 to September 4. This year’s lineup features performances of “Twelfth Night,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “The Book of Will,” “The General from America,” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”
Tivoli’s international dance center, Kaatsbaan, hosts a variety of dance companies. Make note of their special Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana performance on May 13, which includes a full flamenco performance, wine and supper, Spanish music by classical guitarist David Temple, and a presentation of the Kaatsbaan Playing Field Award. Ballet Next, Michele Wiles’s experimental company, graces the stage on June 17 and June 18.
