The 2024 Upstate Artwork Weekend was a big, sprawling affair that mapped over 140 areas within the Hudson Valley area, from Westchester within the south to Albany within the north, or roughly a 125-mile (~200-kilometer) stretch of New York State, and Walton to Millerton, one other 100 miles (~160-kilometer) east to west. The geography made it extraordinarily troublesome to expertise greater than a small number of areas, studios, and particular occasions, however all through the weekend — and buoyed by the gorgeous climate — there was a relentless stream of individuals desperate to study a cultural scene that continues to develop.
Michael Scoggins and Alex Gingrow had been two of the artists who opened their shared studio for guests, and so they even invited quite a lot of artists to exhibit alongside them. Scoggins defined to me that the gathering was an amazing alternative for his neighbors in Kerhonkson to find what he’s been as much as and be taught concerning the artist neighborhood within the area. Kerhonkson, like most of the cities right here, is slowly filling up with artists, who discover the proximity to New York — a few one-and-a-half to three-hour drive, relying on the placement within the Hudson Valley — interesting, in addition to the power rising from the brand new crop of artwork venues which are creating an inventive density within the area.

Whereas these new and rising areas are attracting a brand new wave of individuals from New York Metropolis’s giant artwork neighborhood up north, there are downsides. As a number of artists instructed a Hyperallergic editor over the weekend, they loved their time Upstate, however now that they need to return to NYC they only can’t afford to.
There have been additionally numerous particular occasions and gatherings, together with Audra Wolowiec’s shifting “(waves)” choral efficiency on a Hudson River ferry for Newburgh’s Strongroom house. Dozens of artwork lovers joined the artist and performers as they interpreted a rating that resembled concrete poetry after which launched phrases sculpted out of ice into the river itself.
We requested the homeowners and administrators of artwork areas within the space — in addition to a couple of artists — about their experiences through the four-day occasion to listen to what their takeaways had been from the weekend. —Hrag Vartanian
The Barn on Berme — Kerhonkson, New York

Manju Shandler, who runs the Barn on Berme artwork house, instructed Hyperallergic that the venue “had a beautiful weekend with so, so many guests,” lots of whom seemed to be from close by.
“They had been pleased to see native artists,” Shandler mentioned, including that a number of appeared “keen to go to among the smaller, personal venues that aren’t open year-round.” Exterior of internet hosting, Shandler additionally mentioned she loved seeing different exhibitions through the busy weekend when she had the chance: “I used to be thrilled to have the ability to sneak out rapidly to go to two venues inside a couple of miles of us, Stony Kill Studios and Whimsy Flowers Farm. Each had been superior areas showcasing wonderful native artists.”
TRANSART — Kingston, New York

Greer Smith, who based Kingston-based arts group TRANSART, instructed Hyperallergic that she was pretty glad with the turnout this previous weekend.
“We had people who got here final 12 months for the primary time come again once more,” Smith mentioned, including that many guests gave constructive suggestions concerning the work on show and the exhibition house, which the group moved into final 12 months. “My feeling is that so long as we proceed to indicate the sort of work we do, folks will come.”
LABspace — Hillsdale, New York

Longtime Brooklyn artists Ellen Letcher and Julie Torres turned co-directors of Hillsdale’s LABspace in 2018. This was the venue’s fourth 12 months collaborating in Upstate Artwork Weekend, however Letcher and Torres instructed Hyperallergic that they continue to be unsure whether or not they are going to take part once more going ahead, including that they want they “felt extra help” from the occasion’s organizers for his or her house, programming, and exhibiting artists.
“Greater than ever, consideration was positioned on monied status areas, NYC galleries displaying NYC artists, and the spectacle of mega-events. We’re targeted on the artwork itself, and on the challenges of artists. We’re a small artist-run house that gives an actual expertise for individuals who care deeply about artwork. We’ve been actively concerned in constructing the Hudson Valley arts neighborhood that’s now being overrun by cash,” Letcher and Torres mentioned.
“It’s shocking to see many areas profit from the occasion with out official participation. We really feel that our participation price of $400 has sponsored the eye, press, and attendance for different areas — and in lots of instances — bigger areas with extra attain and cash.”
Mott Initiatives — Catskill, New York

For Mott Initiatives’s second 12 months collaborating in Upstate Artwork Weekend, the up to date artwork house introduced art work from three solo exhibitions they’ve held thus far this summer time. “The turn-out was once more very spectacular,” proprietor Erik Sommer instructed Hyperallergic, detailing that guests largely from New York Metropolis, particularly Brooklyn, and the encompassing Catskills cities.
“I left feeling like a number of new connections had been made with different artists, collectors, and curators that can be revisited down the highway,” Sommer mentioned, including that the house will possible take part in future editions.
Caldwell Gallery Hudson — Hudson, New York

Jay Caldwell of Caldwell Gallery Hudson, which offers largely in secondary-market works and estates, instructed Hyperallergic that his enterprise tends to choose out of Upstate Artwork Weekend’s official programming, which generally skews towards up to date artwork. Regardless of not formally participating within the occasion, Caldwell famous there was “actually an uptick in visitors.”
“It was a pleasant weekend. There have been a variety of very individuals who had been actually doing the Hudson gallery crawl,” Caldwell mentioned, including that “there appeared to be a variety of new faces.”
Ely Middle of Modern Artwork at ArtPort — Kingston, New York

Aimée Burg, the gallery coordinator of the Ely Middle of Modern Artwork, instructed Hyperallergic that this 12 months was the primary time the New Haven artwork venue participated within the occasion, presenting the exhibition How did we get right here? at ArtPort’s location in Kingston. Most of the guests who got here by ArtPort’s house seemed to be neighbors and Upstate residents, Burg mentioned, including that she is unsure whether or not the humanities heart will take part within the weekend occasion subsequent 12 months, as it’s contemplating relocating to a brand new venue.
“It was enjoyable and an amazing expertise, however like a variety of arts facilities, we’re in flux; this pop-up present was a little bit of testing the waters for areas,” Burg mentioned, including that it appears “this occasion is getting too huge for only one weekend.”
“Maybe there have been truly extra guests in complete, however due to the unfold and scope of wonderful venues, it felt like viewers had been unfold skinny and unable to make it to all the pieces.”
Mom In Regulation’s — Germantown, NY

For his or her fifth 12 months collaborating within the Upstate occasion, the artist-run gallery Elijah Wheat Showroom exhibited the work of artists Dani Klebes and Jacob Rhodes on the Germantown gallery Mom-in-Regulation’s. Elijah Wheat Showroom co-founders Carolina Wheat-Nielsen and Liz Nielsen instructed Hyperallergic that “the foot visitors was outstanding,” citing round 50 guests on Thursday and Friday and greater than 150 folks on Saturday and Sunday.
“Most art-goers had been from town on the weekend, however there was a powerful displaying of native of us on the weekdays,” they mentioned. “It’s all the time an unimaginable alternative to take part, as we now have seen higher visibility for our ‘upstate’ gallery due to Upstate Artwork Weekend’s powerfully competent advertising and marketing and connection-making.”
Jean Shin’s Studio — Hurley, New York

Artist Jean Shin held an open studio occasion in Hurley, New York, as a part of a collaboration with Brooklyn-based arts nonprofit Powerhouse Arts. Shin instructed Hyperallergic that it was her first time doing Upstate Artwork Weekend and he or she could be pleased to proceed collaborating in the summertime occasion sooner or later.
“It’s one very packed weekend, however actually an extension of the deep creativity and neighborhood that’s right here upstate,” Shin mentioned, noting that if she needed to do something in a different way, she wished she would have had extra time with guests “as a result of the fantastic thing about upstate is to spend gradual, high quality time collectively and in nature.”
Entrance Room Gallery — Hudson, New York

Daniel Aycock, one of many administrators of Hudson’s Entrance Room Gallery, instructed Hyperallergic that the enterprise was “unfold too skinny” to take part as a gallery within the official Upstate Artwork Weekend programming this 12 months (Aycock’s accomplice Kathleen Vance exhibited her art work at three totally different artwork venues included within the weekend occasion). Nonetheless, he famous that “what we skilled within the Hudson-to-Kingston area was a lot greater than it has been in years previous,” citing fairly a couple of native attendees, “an enormous inflow of individuals from NYC,” and a “shocking” quantity of tourists from locations farther away like New England and Canada.
“The Hudson Valley has a wealthy historical past of inventive expertise,” Aycock mentioned. “The artists have all the time been creating right here, however exhibiting in Manhattan typically. Upstate Artwork Weekend provides them an opportunity to indicate their work in their very own backyards and get some actual consideration.”
Pamela Salisbury Gallery — Hudson, New York

Pamela Salisbury, who runs her namesake gallery in Hudson, instructed Hyperallergic that she selected to not take part in any devoted Upstate Artwork Weekend programming. The vendor described the occasion as “nice” and mentioned that “it was enjoyable to indicate first-time guests round,” but it surely “didn’t really feel appreciably totally different,” because the gallery typically attracts guests from close by and out of city. “We’ll proceed to ensure our doorways are open throughout Upstate Artwork Weekend,” Salisbury mentioned.
D’Arcy/Simpson Gallery — Hudson, New York

This weekend, the Hudson gallery D’Arcy/Simpson exhibited the work of Joseph Stabilito, a mid-career artist based mostly in New York Metropolis and Hillsdale.
“We weren’t on the official map this 12 months for Upstate Artwork Weekend primarily as a result of it simply acquired away from us within the craziness of the summer time season,” proprietor Ellen D’Arcy Simpson instructed Hyperallergic.
“However we undoubtedly plan to discover becoming a member of forces with the Upstate group subsequent 12 months to unfold the phrase concerning the culturally full of life Hudson Valley.”



