Officially launched in January 2019, the collaborative Cryptic Gallery at 358 Main Street in Poughkeepsie seeks to bring the Queen City’s creative class together across disciplines. The self-described “Web3-focused creative agency” is one of the few Hudson Valley galleries trafficking in NFTs, but don’t let that confuse you. The collective is also very much about shared live experiences and physical artwork.
Cryptic will kick off its 2022 spring season with a live mural painting extravaganza and vendor fair on Saturday, May 7. Muralists and street artists from around the country will converge at the Poughkeepsie gallery to repaint all the murals in the al fresco exhibition space out back. The participating artists taking on the 12 murals include Austin-based duo FISH and Candy Kuo, Taylord, Pono, husband-and-wife team Box Truck Guardians, Christopher Daze Ellis, and Amalli Onair.
Inside the gallery, you can browse wall art by the muralists in the mounted show. There will also be handful of local vendors including Whadafunk, New York Filthy, Flu Season, Caylan Camelli, mask maker Danny Caraballo and homegrown sounds from area DJs and musicians including Joe Cappalletti, Caerulean, Hashishen, Bryce Wall, Rich Cullers, Ultradaddy, and Xavier A. Art workshops for kids will run from 2-4pm. Chef Dave Cruz of the Reconnect Foods food truck will be on hand dishing up his signature farm-to-table, Latin-Asian fusion menu of street food specialties like bao buns, empanadas, wings, and noodles.
“These kinds of immersive, arts-and mentorship events help build community and bring a vibrancy we believe the city of Poughkeepsie needs in order to evolve,” says Cryptic co-founder Ovid Forest. “Projects like these add to a community's civic pride, as well as beauty and cultural enrichment."
The mural painting will last all day. People can flow in and out, watch the painting, grab a bite, and browse the indoor gallery. After hours, the party will continue at Cryptic's hospitality arm, the neighborhood bar Reason & Ruckus a few doors down at 305 Main Street.
May Mural Show on Saturday, May 7, is free and open to the public. Cryptic Gallery opens at 11am. The after-party at Reason & Ruckus begins at 9pm.
