Fite was a Texan who came East in the late 1920s to attend
the divinity school that later became Bard College. He found himself more drawn
to the theater, joining the Maverick Theater Company in Woodstock and later
touring in moustache-twirling melodramas. In an idle moment backstage, he
picked up an empty wooden spool left behind by the wardrobe mistress, and he
began to carve the spool with his pocketknife.
This introduction to sculpting led into the massive land
sculpture that is Opus 40 when Fite bought an old bluestone quarry, one of many
that had been essential to the local economy in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
He turned the discarded slag stones into walls, towers, passages, and pathways
that sprawl across the property, with one section designed as an amphitheater.
Many plays have been performed in the amphitheater, as well as concerts by such
notable musicians as Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Sonny Rollins, and Jimmy
Cliff.
The mind-boggling scale and variety of the structures built
by Fite are an inspiration for anyone, child or adult, walking through his
creation. However, keep in mind that running, jumping, and climbing on the
sculpture are not permitted.
Pandemic rules
Ordinarily the property and its museum are open April
through November. Although the pandemic has canceled this year's performances
and educational programming, Opus 40 is now open for visits of a maximum of two
hours, for groups of five or fewer, Thursdays to Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are absolutely required in advance to ensure social distancing. Visits
are currently free for Opus 40 members, essential workers (for now, that means
teachers and healthcare workers), and children younger than 5, although they
must have tickets. For others, general admission is $11, with seniors and
students paying $8.
Opus
40 is located at 50 Fite Road, Saugerties, NY. For more information, and before
visiting, go to https://opus40.org/