Page 39 - Dutchess Tourism 2023

VISUAL ARTS
The largest jewel in the Dutchess County art crown is Dia Beacon, a sprawling former Nabisco box-printing plant
and one of the largest exhibition spaces in the U.S. for contemporary art. Its permanent collection contains works by Richard Serra, Sol Lewitt, Dan Flavin, Louise Bourgeois and others. Bask in the natural light from 34,000 square feet of skylights illuminating the galleries and wander through the gardens on the banks of the Hudson River. Dia Beacon is just a 10-minute walk from the Beacon Metro-North station and the Hudson River waterfront.
Many of the Hudson River School paintings of the 19th century that captured the beauty of our landscapes are
on display at Vassar College’s Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center in Poughkeepsie, which offers free admission. Designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli, the museum houses 21,000 pieces in its collection, ranging from antiquities to the present day. See works by Rembrandt, van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Munch, O’Keefe, Warhol and more.
In terms of artistic mission, the Wassaic Project stands out. In 2008, the 1940s-era mill building in the Amenia hamlet of Wassaic was relaunched as an arts complex angled at uniting visitors and area residents through a philosophy of artistic inclusion and experimentation. The site hosts exhibitions and edgy summer festivals, along with interactive family programs.
In northern Dutchess, the CSS Bard Hessel Museum of Art presents exhibitions of contemporary art year-round on Bard’s Hudson River campus. The museum’s collection includes more than 3,000 works and is free to visit.
NIGHTLIFE
The Majed J. Nesheiwat (MJN) Convention Center — formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center — hosts an array
of concerts, craft fairs and expos for visitors to enjoy. Conveniently located next door to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel & Conference Center, it has hosted comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, Hudson Valley Motorcycle Expo, Foreigner and more.
Fantastic live music can be heard every Wednesday through Sunday at Daryl’s House, the restaurant and live entertainment venue in Pawling owned by Daryl Hall, half of the musical duo Hall & Oates. At the Pawling venue, fans can sit up close and immerse themselves in rock, blues and soul from national and regional musicians.
Quinn’s, housed in a former luncheonette in Beacon, gives you the full indie experience, hosting world-renowned avant-garde jazz musicians and regional rock acts—complete with a bowl of ramen on the side seven days a week.
Catch contemporary and cult-classic rock bands at Poughkeepsie’s long-running rock club, The Chance.
It started as a playhouse and vaudeville theater until becoming a saloon and necessary stopover for bands of the punk and New Wave era. This legendary venue has hosted Pete Seeger, The Ramones, The Police, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Phish.
Get discounts to arts and culture destinations with the Inspiration Finder on page 39.
Download our Contemporary
Arts Trail brochure
for more experiences!
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