If you’re ready for an early summer escape, the sixth annual Upstate Art Weekend is just two weeks away. Founded by curator Helen Toomer as a celebration of local and regional creativity hubs, this massive, self-guided art experience breaks down gallery walls entirely. It transforms the pastoral landscape of the Hudson Valley and Catskills into an open-air art crawl on steroids. For five consecutive days this year, over 160 artists, open studios, non-profits, and major institutions open their doors to audiences coming from New York City and beyond. It is a rare chance to step directly into the working barns, garages, and converted mills where art is made. You can explore site-specific installations, and experience the incredible synergy between art, people, and place.

What began in 2000 as a localized initiative with just 23 participants determined to reconnect the creative community during the height of the pandemic, UAW has evolved into a massive, internationally recognized cultural phenomenon. So, when you look at the map, you might wonder where to start. If you’d like to get a head start on the big weekend itself, head over to Kingston, where founding curator and director Helen Toomer has organized a sweeping exhibition at UAW headquarters. Entitled , “Earthen Plot”, the show [above] brings together 37 distinct artists selected from the more than 200 participants in the UAW Open Studios initiative. Now on view, through June 29, Earthen Plot explores artistic practices that are deeply, intuitively, or spiritually rooted in the conditions of place. By displaying these diverse voices collectively, Toomer invites visitors to consider how contemporary creators both nurture and unsettle our evolving relationships to land, physical material, and the present moment.

When you step away from the gallery hopping and open studios, Kingston offers an engaging mix of historic architecture, maritime charm, and a booming culinary scene. Up in the historic Stockade District, the 17th-century stone houses feel like living archives for the state’s first capitol. There, cozy mainstays like Rough Draft Bar & Books offer the perfect excuse to hunt for new reads over a cold pint under ancient timbers. At the Rondout Waterfront you can watch classic tugboats cruise the creek right outside the Hudson River Maritime Museum, or sip crisp natural wines on the esplanade. Whether you are trekking the raw, cliffside paths of Sojourner Truth State Park or tucking into a live-fire dinner along the riverbanks, Kingston offers a multi-layered escape that beckons you to slow down and linger a while. Above: The  Barn at Stoneleaf Retreat

Visit the Upstate Art Weekend website for listings, maps and lodging information. Follow unfolding updates on UAWs Instagram