Page 40 - Dutchess Tourism 2024

{Artistic Brilliance }
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DUTCHESS COUNTY DESTINATION GUIDE
DUTCHESS COUNTY has long been a lively epicenter of exceptional artwork and entertainment. Our stages regularly feature world-famous performers, and our galleries are adorned with works by renowned artists.
ICONIC ART
Dia Beacon
Located in a former Nabisco box-printing plant, this is one of the largest exhibition spaces in the U.S. for contemporary art. Andy Warhol’s Shadows is at Dia Beacon for
long-term view, alongside works by Richard Serra, Blinky Palermo, Louise Bourgeois and others.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
(Vassar College, Poughkeepsie)
Designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli, the museum is free to visit and houses 22,000 pieces in its collection, ranging from antiquities to the present day. See works by Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and the Hudson River School painters.
KuBe Art Center (Beacon)
Famous curator Ethan Cohen has two galleries — one in New York City and the other in Beacon at the KuBe Art Center. Among the recent exhibitions in Beacon is Back to School, a reimagined look at the high school experience that Cohen co- curated with renowned pop artist Ron English.
CCS Bard’s Hessel Museum of Art
(Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson)
The Hessel Collection is comprised of more than 3,000 works of art by more than 500 prominent artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. Free to enter.
Wassaic Project (Maxon Mills, Wassaic)
Maxon Mills, home to the Wassaic Project, is an historic, seven-story wooden grain elevator that has been repurposed into a uniquely magnificent venue for artists of all types to show their work.
Throughout Dutchess County
Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park and Beacon boast eye-catching murals by artists Nèstor, Franc Palaia and Risa Tochigi (aka Riiisa Boogie). Check out The Art League of Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie’s walking map of outdoor murals to find open-air art.
Meg Webster, Installation View at Dia Beacon
PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVALS
Kaatsbaan Spring and Fall Festivals
(Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli)
Kaatsbaan is a 153-acre artist sanctuary on the Hudson River that serves as an incubator for innovative dance, theater, music, film, poetry, culinary, and visual arts. They host events and performances throughout the year.
Bard SummerScape, Spiegeltent and Music Festival
(Fisher Center at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson) SummerScape features live opera, dance, theater, music, film and cabaret from June through August every year. It runs alongside the Bard Music Festival, which features discussions, events and performances focused on one composer. The Spiegeltent, a glittering, mirrored tent-like pavilion, hosts live performances, drinks and dancing all summer.
Powerhouse Theater (Vassar College, Poughkeepsie) Known as the theater that premiered Hamilton before it became a Broadway smash, Powerhouse has cemented its reputation as the place to see a new work while it’s in development. Each year, it features a superb lineup of imaginative and insightful plays and workshops.
New York Stage and Film (Marist College, Poughkeepsie) This has been a showcase for emerging and established artists since 1985, including the 2023 world premiere of the theatrical work Like They Do in the Movies, written and performed by Laurence Fishburne.
Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival
This annual festival showcases hundreds of musicians, artists and performers at dozens of venues and galleries throughout Beacon. Snuggle up by one of the cozy campfires all along Main Street, and take advantage of discounts on food, drinks and retail items.
MODfest (Vassar College, Poughkeepsie)
Enjoy a week-long exploration of the arts of the 20th and 21st centuries that includes live performances of music, dance and theater, visual arts exhibits and more.
Jazz in the Valley (Victor C. Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie) This annual festival welcomes world-class musicians to the beautiful Poughkeepsie waterfront for a celebration of jazz. Sit under the tent, or bring your own chair or blanket and relax on the lawn.
© DON STAHL