The 2025 Northern Art Weekend Exhibition proves the rationality of this driving
As New York falls into a full swamp pattern (between the hot, high humidity and sudden, moody summer storms), city dwellers resume annually looking for cooler air and greener pastures. As always, pastoral port destinations offer breathing hopes and closely curated exhibitions on museums, galleries, artist-run spaces, and increasingly powerful networks of biennials.
One of the best ways to experience the show’s full scan is to visit Northern Arts Weekend, which returns today and lasts until July 21, with a intensive lineup of a range of cultural initiatives in the Hudson Valley and beyond. The event, launched in 2020 with only 23 participants, angering over 155 exhibitors.
Still, Helen Toomer (Brain of Northern Art Weekend) sheds light on the key to keeping the itinerary simple: You can’t see it all, and that’s OK, because you can always come back later this season.
She told Observer that she told Observer. “It’s about slowing down, dipping into the journey between parking and experiencing the natural beauty of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley along the way.” Essentially, Upstate Art Weekend is a celebration of community, collaboration, art and outdoor activities – Toomer believes it is crucial to our collective well-being. “It was created to focus on incredible organizations, artists and cultural spaces that make the area so special and help build lasting connections between visitors and locals.”
We combed the official lineup and programming of some of our favorite independent spaces to put together a curated guide to the must-see Upstate art show this season.
