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EPIC LABOR OF LOVE: 🖤 OF STONE

Incredible environmental art installation made of millions of stones hand laid. Opus 40, Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40,” designed and built by Harvey Fite. Saugerties, NY.

OPUS 40

Our hearts quicken every time we enter Opus 40, sculptor Harvey Fite’s 40-year Labor of Love.

Opus 40, an amazing massive sculpture made from millions of stones, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

“‘Opus 40’ is a cousin of Stonehenge and the long since vanished Hanging Gardens of Babylon…the greatest earthwork sculpture I have ever seen.” 

-- Brendan Gill, Architectural Digest

Trees grow out of environmental earthwork, made of hand laid stones by artist Harvey Fite, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

A monumental installation of environmental sculpture, Opus 40 rises up after it digs deep into a bluestone quarry, located in Saugerties, NY, a rural area about 100 miles north of Manhattan. The work is built entirely out of the bluestone.

Hand laid stones create swirls and curves in environmental art installation in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Fite, one of the founders of Bard College Fine Arts Department, purchased the then abandoned quarry in 1938, originally so he could have a ready supply of blue stone for his smaller representational sculptures. But he soon got inspired to build something greater.

Shadows fall on Opus 40, an environmental sculpture made of stone, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

It began with one stone, as every journey begins with one step, then Fite’s sculpture grew, over a period of 37 years, to span 6 ½-acres of land, sitting within a 70+acre forest.

People stand on the edge of Opus 40, the environmental sculpture that took 40 years and millions of stones to build, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Fite called his work “Opus 40” because he anticipated that it would take him 40 years to complete. But Fite died in 1976, in the 37th year, when he accidentally backed his pickup truck over the edge of the quarry. He was 72 years old. You can see the unfinished section of the quarry where this labor of love abruptly stopped.

Old winch used by Harvey Fite in building Opus 40, the enormous stone environmental earthwork in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

While it is utterly sad that this passionate artist worked so hard for so long only to miss the joys of seeing the final fruits of his labor, we are uplifted by his ardent effort and brilliant vision.

Beautifully laid stones, part of Opus 40, the environmental art installation in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Fite constructed this epic work single-handedly, using dry-key stone techniques adapted from the Mayans, laying each piece by hand. Millions of pieces of stone are beautifully fit together to create curving walls, stepped terraces, swirling ramps and pavillions.

Stone paths of Opus 40, the one acre environmental sculpture, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

As it is an Earth artwork, Fite designed it to include natural pools, fountains, trees, and shrubs. As the light changes throughout the day, we see the whole of it with different shapes and shadows.

Man looks up from inside Opus 40, the environmental stone sculpture, in upstate NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Like a multi-level labyrinth, one can walk through, around, and over it. There are 16-ft deep subterranean pathways.

Two people pose in front of giant stone obelisk on top of Opus 40, the environmental stone art installation in upstate New York.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

The work is crowned with a 9-ton bluestone monolith that rises 3 stories above ground.

Beautiful stone environmental art installation, called Opus 40, spans one acre in Saugerties, New York.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Though Fite was not associated with the Land Art or Earthworks sculptural movement of the 1970s, he came to be known as a pioneer of that movement. Now, Opus 40 has been designated A National Historic Place.

Old pulleys and winches used by artist Harvey Fite in building Opus 40, the mammoth stone sculpture, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Harvey Fite’s House at Opus 40.”

When you visit Fite’s stone labor of love, you can also see the home where he and his family lived, draped with some of the old chains and winches Fite used in his work. You can also see Fite’s studio, blacksmith shop and Quarryman’s Museum.

Musician Tad Richards and friend play guitars on lawn of Opus 40, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira White. “Tad Richards and friend play guitars at Opus 40.”

During the summer, you can also enjoy outdoor concerts, performed atop the highest platform of the sculpture. On Sunday mornings, you can bring a musical instrument and join a local jam session, led by Tad Richards, a highly accomplished musician, songwriter, and bestselling author. Richards, who is also Fite’s stepson, serves as the Opus 40 artistic director.

Stone statue at edge of woods at Opus 40, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira P. White. “Opus 40.”

Read more about Beautiful Labors all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

A man and boy explore the inner channels of Opus 40, environmental stone sculpture, in Saugerties, NY.
Image: by Shira White. “Inside Opus 40.”

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Fern grows out of the side of Opus 40 environmental sculpture in upstate, NY.
Image: by Shira White. “Fern grows out of Opus 40.”

All Images by Shira White. “Opus 40,” by Harvey Fite. Saugerties, NY.

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