Art happenings in Beacon, NY

For years, Beacon has had hoppin' Second Saturdays with gallery openings and art happenings. But art refuses to be confined to a hashtagged event schedule. That's why we've expanded this Guide to showcase as many art openings as we can within Beacon's city limits. Artistic endeavors are going up on walls all the time around town, so keep your eyes glued to this space and refresh often to stay in the loop. We're constantly updating the Guide as we hear about new events and openings.

Are you planning for the fourth Thursday of the month? Or maybe you're already a seasoned #2Sat pro? Skip the Second Saturday 101 below if you'd like, and head straight for the listings, starting with Dia: Beacon.

Do you have an art opening coming up? Tell us about it: Drop a line to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com with the who/what/when/where, and include a representative photo, to be considered for inclusion in the Guide. 

Second Saturday 101

"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses on the second Saturday of every month. Dan Rigney, former president of BeaconArts (the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events) says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday provides a great reason to walk Main Street and beyond, and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure to dine your way through Beacon, so turn to our Restaurant Guide to help you puzzle out where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:

• This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in the gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
• Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
• Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
• Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. Click here for A Little Beacon Blog's Free Public Parking Guide, with pictures and cross streets!
• Share your way through Second Saturday by using #2SAT, the hashtag created by BeaconArts, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
• If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night (After 9pm) Spots to Eat and Drink: 

After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink! See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9 pm in our Restaurant Guide. 

• Bank Square 129 Main St.
• Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
• Meyer's Olde Dutch 184 Main St.
• Max's On Main 246 Main St.
• Baja 328 328 Main St.
• Quinn's 330 Main St.
• The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
• Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St. (Call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served!)
• Draught Industries 394 Main St.
• The Beacon Hotel Restaurant 424 Main St.
• The Vault 446 Main St.
• Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
• Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
• Dogwood 47 East Main St.

Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone!

Second Saturday, September 9: Fall is in the air! Schools are back in session, leaves are crunching, and there's just something invigorating about all of it. Make like the kids this weekend and learn new things: See art. In Beacon tradition, there will also be music galore. At the Howland Cultural Center, kids can meet their new favorite instrument in the "petting zoo." Our Event Guide will fill you in on the tunes, then let us know which ones you opt for! Now, let's get to September's art openings and happenings:

NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET

Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
One of the preeminent modern art museums in the world, Dia:Beacon opened in 2003 in a former Nabisco box-printing factory on the shore of the Hudson River. Many people point to the museum's arrival as a turning point for Beacon's arts-intensive revival. Take a closer look at Dia:Beacon's giant shapes, piles of glass, grayscale geometry, neon tubes and so. much. more. Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free every weekend! 
Opening Saturday, September 23: Probably best known for The Lightning Field in New Mexico, Walter De Maria conceived of art on a smaller scale, too. His Truck Trilogy opens at Dia:Beacon this month. Begun in 2011 and completed after De Maria's 2013 death, the work consists of three classic Chevrolet pickup trucks, which have been stripped of all extraneous elements and details. Placed vertically in the trucks’ flatbeds are circular, square, and triangular polished-stainless-steel rods - not unlike the ones out in the desert. Go get electrified. 
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

Cathouse FUNeral
18 West Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 202-7334
Special for Second Saturday: Don't miss Leaving Home, brought to Beacon by David Dixon's Cathouse FUNeral. Seventeen artists in this important, provocative show explore the concept of "home," and address border crossings, migration, and "diremption, a self tearing apart" via corrugated cardboard, murals, historical objects, rockets, and ... blood. Leaving Home closes tomorrow (Sunday, September 10) so, seriously, check it out. Curator David Dixon will guide tours of the exhibition at 5 and 7. Right next door to 2 Way Brewing Company, up the northern hill from the train station.
Hours: Noon to 7 pm

THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)

ReMADE
133 Main St.
Beacon, NY
We've seen a lot of changes over the years in the space that is now home to ReMADE. The shop started a Second Saturday tradition of spotlighting a single artist, no practical function necessary for their work. ReMADE fills an entire wall with the work of a single artist.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

Catalyst Gallery
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: Cross Pollination brings together four artists, working in photography, mixed-media collages, and sculptures. Jane Soodalter, Cali Gorevic, Anita Jacobson, and Cindy Booth met years ago. Head to Catalyst to see the fruits of how "inspirations and ideas germinate among us and between us." Through October 1.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; opening reception, 6 to 8 pm

Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Special for Second Saturday: For several years, Theo Ganz Studio has hosted artwork by Inuit printmakers in the far northern reaches of Canada, sometimes joined by artists from "the south" (including some familiar Beacon names). The story of how Japanese-style printmaking found its way to Cape Dorset - in the Arctic Circle - is fascinating. Stop in and see what's new in this year's show. Continues through October 1.
Hours: Noon to 8 pm

Bannerman Island Gallery
150 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-6346
This gallery is devoted to showcasing the beauty of Bannerman Island Castle and the Hudson Highlands that surround the former arsenal. Works in the gallery are available for purchase, benefiting the Bannerman Castle Trust's preservation efforts.
Hours: Noon to 5 pm

The Inn & Spa at Beacon
151 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 205-2900
Beacon's newest West End destination is ready for the viewing public. (Read our scoop here!) The lobby of The Inn & Spa at Beacon features evocative still-life paintings, etchings, and art jewelry by the acclaimed Anamario Hernández.
Special for Second Saturday: Stop by the gallery to see what's new!
Hours: Call for hours.

Marion Royael Gallery
159 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(727) 244-5535
Special for Second Saturday: The gallery's latest Directed Migrating Installation, The Human Nest, brings together the visual perspectives of dozens of artists to reflect on "the nature of human dwellings." 
Hours: Noon to 7 pm (sometimes later)

Hudson Beach Glass / Fovea
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
This glass studio has been casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years - a truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown-glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday, you can watch them blow glass.
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm

Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. 
Special for Second Saturday: Sofubi (soft vinyl designer toys) and kaiju collide as four artists present Monster Mash. Bloom, a solo show from Mariangela Tan, is mixed-media sculptures like you've never seen before. Both shows run through October 6.
Hours: Noon to 5 pm; opening reception, 6 to 9 pm

RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: Fall colors don't have to be limited to orange and yellow and tan. Visit DM Weil's Let's Have Some Color in Our Lives, check in with the exuberant hues, and file them away in your memory (or pick up art to hang on your wall!) for the inevitable gray snowy days to come. Through October 10.
Hours: Noon to 9 pm; opening reception, 5 to 8 pm

Dream in Plastic
177 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 632-3383
Dream in Plastic frequently celebrates Second Saturday, adorning the walls of their sweet retail shop with amazing artwork from their friends. Exhibits have included photography, painting, and illustrations from like-minded whimsical geniuses. In the past, DiP has been known to offer cupcakes and coffee at openings!
Hours: 11 am to 7 pm; opening receptions are usually 6 to 9 pm

Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses a variety of Institute programs: the WOW! gallery, the Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, its administrative headquarters, and a new venture, Sensor Place. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: This weekend is your last chance to catch "Shad in the Shadow of Skyscrapers," a photo essay from a 1947 National Geographic project by legendary photographer Luis Marden. How much has changed, and how many scenes are the same, 70 years later? Click here for more event details.
Hours: 3 to 7 pm

THE MIDDLE & MARKET SQUARE

Beahive
291 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 418-3731
A pioneering co-working space in Beacon, and A Little Beacon Blog's neighbor in the historic Telephone Building, Beahive sometimes hosts art openings. 
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

Howland Public Library
313 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-1134
Special for Second Saturday: Two creative events are happening at the library this Second Saturday. First up: Perhaps you've heard about Beacon Arts' Keys to the City project? Painted pianos will be placed around the city, inviting impromptu concerts whenever the mood strikes. It's music to our ears! (Lest you worry that this is a weird artsy-tartsy Beacon thing, worry not: It's a fantastic artsy-tartsy lots-of-places thing.) Stop by the Howland Public Library to help decorate their piano.
Once you've made your mark on the upright, stick around for more civic art engagement. Transform book pages into flowers and other decorative pieces with Origami Bob; the results will make up the library's entry for Windows on Main Street.
Hours: Piano painting, 11 am to 3 pm; origami, noon to 3 pm

Progression Art Studio
320 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Stop by to see what's new!

Oak Vino Wine Bar
389 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-2400
Not just a place to kick back with a glass and unwind, Oak Vino is also a great spot to see art. Owner Rinny Patel often has work from local painters on the walls, and occasionally hosts Second Saturday shindigs.
Opening Saturday, September 16: Three Hudson Valley artists grace the walls of Oak Vino in this exhibition. Beacon resident Emily Marchesiello brings inspiration from fantasy and psychedelic art to her ink drawings and oil paintings of all kinds of creatures. Tiffany Delacruz Di Pietro makes beautifully ornate sculptural headdresses and crowns. Jennie Ossentjuk's photos of children reflect her travels around the globe. All works will be for sale. 
Hours: 3 to 11 pm; opening reception Sept. 16, 7 to 9 pm

THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Closer to the mountain)

The Beacon Hotel Gallery
424 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-2208
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday: Ky Anderson's Small Stories includes paintings and drawings, and with earthly shades, feels like a natural successor to Super Natural, Matteawan's exhibit of the past two months. Come see how Anderson uses lines, layers, and lightness to tell each of her Small Stories.
Hours: Noon to 5; opening reception, 6 to 9 pm

Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

3B Gallery
458 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-6782
This gallery tucked into Beacon Bath & Bubble often showcases talent from within Beacon, including student art.
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

Center for Creative Education
464 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 338-7664
According to their website, the mission of the Center for Creative Education (CCE) is to enrich the social and cultural awareness of our youth and community through arts, wellness and education.
Special for Second Saturday: CCE frequently holds art workshops in addition to dance, music, theater, and fitness events.
Hours: Call for event information and hours.

TERRESON:BEACON
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(914) 772-6570
Jeffrey Terreson's paintings are in the collections of various Fortune 500 companies, as well as the United Nations. His work is inspired by 20th-century post-war masters such as Julian Schnabel, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko and Joan Snyder. 
Special for Second Saturday: Jeffrey Terreson recently marked the one-year anniversary of his gallery's opening in Beacon. If you missed the big fête, visit and see 15 new pieces. He is gearing up for a big upcoming show in Bedford, so catch a sneak peek of those works, too!
Hours: Call for hours

Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: The Howland Chamber Music Circle is hosting this "instrument petting zoo," so schoolkids can test-drive instruments before deciding on which to study. Professional musicians from around the Hudson Valley will be demonstrating the instruments, showing off the potential of each and inspiring kids (and adults!).
Hours: 3 to 4 pm, free but reservations are requested here.

Maria Lago Studio 502
502 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-8421
Maria Lago's super-textural paintings come to life with her haunting, larger-than-life sculptures. Her gallery is filled with the looming, evocative figures.
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

bau Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members and artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. bau builds a vital link between artists' activities and rest of the community.
Special for Second Saturday: The 153rd consecutive show from bau includes work from two artists. In the Main Gallery, you'll find Melissa Schlobohm's The Woman Upstairs. You've likely seen Melissa's painstaking hand-carved , hand-colored, and hand-trimmed woodblock prints, either in previous shows around Beacon galleries or in the Drink More Good storefront. In the Beacon Room, check out pieces from Brad Teasdale. He combines passion for sustainable design with concrete, glass and wood to craft beautiful work that meshes with daily life.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 to 9 pm

Kaight
512 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 202-7787
Special for Second Saturday: Following the success of June's shibori-dyeing class, Kaight hosts another how-to. Ali from Salt & Still will be demonstrating sashiko stitching. This Japanese embroidery technique is super useful for visible mending, in addition to being pretty. You bring an item that needs stitch witchery; they'll supply everything else (needles, thread, and mending materials).
Hours: 10 am to 1 pm

Russell Cusick Gallery
530 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 202-7787
Way down to the East End, right across from the Roundhouse, you'll find Russell Cusick's gallery. He has transmuted photography and painted Hudson Valley vistas, rendering the familiar scenes into hypervivid dreamscapes. But's he's also known for turning manhole covers into art. (Yes, really. See for yourself!)
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

BEACON near Route 52

The Lofts at Beacon Gallery
18 Front St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 202-7211
The Lofts at Beacon brought back to life a 19th-century brick mill that once made textiles in the Hudson Valley, located by the Fishkill Creek and situated near the Hudson River in the artists' haven town of Beacon. The Lofts have been completely remodeled into beautiful spaces, providing excellent loft rental units for the working artist.
Hours: Call for hours and Second Saturday happenings.

Do check out A Little Beacon Blog's constantly updated Pop-Up Shop Guide and the Shopping Guide to help you shop and take advantage of special opportunities and events offered by shops during this exciting day.

Past Second Saturday Guides

• August 2017
• July 2017
• June 2017
• May 2017
• April 2017
• March 2017
• February 2017
• January 2017
• December 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• July 2016