Peekskill will transform into a gallery for the weekend. More than 20 art studios will open their doors to showcase their work, creative processes, and speak about what inspires them. Open Studios is organized by the Peekskill Arts Alliance (PAA), and this year marks its 26th edition with a tour that begins downtown but extends far beyond—to locations such as the Hat Factory and the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (HVCCA), where all exhibitions will be free of charge throughout the weekend.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, 8, the route will feature the work of at least 70 visual artists, multimedia creators, and artisans who will present the very essence of their craft. The “Off the Beaten Track” exhibit at SUNY-Peekskill, for example, will bring together two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and multimedia works from more than 50 artists, along with four short films that will be screened in the main gallery.
At the Ford Piano Building, the “Tent Site Gallery” will host 13 exhibitors presenting paintings, photographs, woodblock prints, jewelry, artistic clothing, and more. A few blocks away, visitors will find spaces such as The Flat Iron Gallery, The Artist Spot, New Era Creative Space, Third Eye Arts, Gauchos Restaurant, JO’s Body Shop, The Field Library, and other key locations in the city’s thriving art scene.
The event, which will continue until 5 p.m., will also include public art and murals distributed throughout the city. Among them are: Luminated Rhythm, a light installation by Shagun Singh on Central Avenue; A Day in the Park, a series of banners located in Pugsley Park and along the path to its final destination at Baxter’s Pharmacy.
Additionally, visitors will encounter the mural Did You Hear?, inspired by Tupac Shakur and created by local students in collaboration with artist Lance Johnson; The Five Arches Mural on Requa Place by Christine Knowlton and Candace Winter; The Abolitionists, a new mural by Johnson located next to the Lincoln Depot Museum; and three new illuminated sculptures: Shared Light by David Farquharson and Wind Farm by Scott Goss on Central Avenue, and Open Doors by Sandra Muss on Railroad Avenue.
The most effective way to follow the route is by using a map. Those who do not have one may pick up a copy at the gazebo. The free catalog will include information about each participating artist and a detailed layout of all exhibition sites. A digital version is also available on the Peekskill Arts Alliance (PAA) website.
