Warren Street, Hudson, New York.
Now you’ve recovered from the tryptophan-induced haze of Thanksgiving dinner, all the family togetherness is driving you crazy. You need to get out of the city to see some art, but you haven’t had time to plan. No problem: we’ve done the research for you. Here’s our pick for a great emergency art getaway this weekend.
What: “Everything and Nothing at Once: Still Life Paintings by Dustin Pevey” at Restrospective Gallery. Pevey takes photographs of objects and images, including paintings, photographs, advertisements, and assorted junk, all hung on his studio wall. The artist then manipulates the digital files, overlaying images from Google, his iPhone, or earlier art projects, before printing them on specially textured canvases. The resulting prints are then obscured with paint, creating complex layered works that are difficult to categorize.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 12–6 PM, through January 17.
Where: Retrospective Gallery, 711 Warren St., in Hudson, New York, just two hours from Midtown Manhattan by car.
How: Hudson is an easy drive up the West Side Highway to the Taconic, so renting a Zipcar is an excellent option. Amtrak adds an extra half hour to the journey, but Hudson is only five stops on the Ethan Allen Express bound for Rutland. Train fare starts at $35.
Why: The fall foliage, while probably past its peak at this point, is still lovely, making for a picturesque drive or train ride along the river. More and more galleries are migrating north of the city, and don’t you owe it to yourself to explore the expanding regional art scene?
Perks: The Hudson Valley is full of quaint bed and breakfasts, craft breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants, so expanding from a day trip to an overnight mini-vacation is an easy and attractive option. If you’re feeling fancy, try the Mount Merino Manor, which boasts romantic fireplaces and views of the Catskills and the river, with rooms starting at $205 a night. Be sure to check out some of the local businesses, like the Red Dot Restaurant, which claims to be the town’s oldest continually operating restaurant and bar.