Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) founder Helen Toomer has curated her first group exhibition for the event, titled “Earthen Plot,” on view at UAW Headquarters in Kingston through June 29. The show features 37 artists selected from the 200 participants in UAW’s recent Open Studios, presenting works in painting, photography, sculpture, installation, and mixed media that explore connections to place. Notable pieces include Manju Shandler’s oversized turtle sculpture *Tiger Woods* (2025) and ceramic works by Kathy Ruttenberg, Ashley Lyon, and others. UAW 2026 runs from June 25 to June 29.
This exhibition matters because it marks a new curatorial direction for UAW, which has grown since 2020 into a major annual art event across the Hudson Valley. By centering regional artists and organizations, Toomer’s project reinforces UAW’s role in spotlighting the area’s vibrant art ecosystem beyond Manhattan. “Earthen Plot” also demonstrates how open-studio models can feed into curated presentations, offering visitors deeper engagement with local creative practices.