The recent Upstate Art Weekend was a memorable experience for Pham as she explored the open studios at Foreland, an 85,000-square-foot campus founded by Halmos. The complex features galleries, studios, co-working spaces, and commercial tenants like a hair salon, boxing gym, and a popular cafe. Pham described the spirit of the place as convivial and communal, embodying the essence of the “upstate” vibe. She also mentioned that visiting Catskill, the town where Foreland is located, was like discovering the lesser-known, but equally beautiful, sibling of Hudson.
Opera director R. B. Schlather, a Hudson resident, is gearing up to showcase the emotionally charged Pulitzer-Prize-winning opera “Vanessa” at the Williamstown Theater Festival this summer. Schlather recommended art enthusiasts to visit The Campus in Claverack, NY, a former midcentury school transformed into an art megaplex by a group of gallerists. He praised the preservation of details like chalkboards, locker rooms, and science labs that reminded him of his own school days in Cooperstown.
Jewelry designer Presley Oldham, another Hudson resident, highlighted the work of fellow designer Mary MacGill in Germantown, NY. Oldham, known for their gender-neutral pearl-and-wire creations, commended MacGill’s serene and striking pieces that blur the line between fine art and jewelry. Oldham expressed excitement about seeing MacGill’s new sculptural pieces inspired by modernists like Alexander Calder and Catherine Noll.
Writer and editor Sari Botton, a Kingston resident, shared her enthusiasm for the Noisemakers Dance Party at Assembly, a former Catholic girls’ school turned events and co-working space in Kingston. Botton, who has called Kingston home for over a decade, praised Assembly for revitalizing the local scene with concerts, pilates classes, and ecstatic dance sessions. She planned to attend the upcoming Upstate Art Weekend party at Assembly, which also served as an abortion-rights benefit.
Overall, the Upstate Art Weekend showcased a diverse range of talents and venues across upstate New York, from the communal atmosphere of Foreland in Catskill to the artistic transformations at The Campus in Claverack and the creative energy at Assembly in Kingston. Each recommendation from Pham, Schlather, Oldham, and Botton offered a unique perspective on the thriving art and culture scene in the region.
