The July 6th First Fridays Artswalk will encompass a dozen art shows featuring over two dozen accomplished regional and student artists in Pittsfield’s bustling Upstreet Cultural District. Venues will reach as far south as the Berkshire Museum and as far North as Berkshire Medical Center. The July First Fridays Artswalk will kick –off with opening receptions and artists present throughout the “walk” from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, July 6th. There will be a free guided walking tour beginning at 5 pm on July 6th at the Intermodal Center at BRTA, 1 Columbus Ave.
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, will be hosting Community Access to the Arts’ (CATA’s) annual art show, “I Am a Part of Art”, featuring a powerful collection of paintings and drawings by artists with disabilities. The exhibit offers a window into the vibrant imagination of CATA artists and demonstrates the power of art to transcend difference. All works are professionally matted and framed, and all pieces are available for sale, with proceeds providing commissions for individual artists. The curated exhibit features a wide range of styles, including abstract and representational paintings and drawings, as well as work in printmaking, sculpture and collage, in a variety of media including acrylic, tempera, watercolor, oil and chalk pastel, charcoal, clay and mixed media.
“I Am a Part of Art” will be on view Thursday, July 5th through Tuesday, July 31st. It will be on view during the July 7th First Fridays Artswalk, 5 to 8 pm, with an opening reception on Thursday, July 12th, 5 to 7 pm.
Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, 444 North Street, will present “PITTSFIELD BETTER OR WORSE” in its DOT GALLERY. The show is curated by Richard Britell. “This title implies that feelings about the city are extremely varied to say the least”, says Richard. “Eight artists have been asked to create or display two works each, works that express their feelings about our town.”
Daniel Karp, Chris Addams, Lucie Castaldo, Jade Roy, Sara Wallach, Diane Firtell, John Clark, and Richard Britell will all have works in “PITTSFIELD BETTER OR WORSE”, and there will be an opening reception on July 6th from 4:30 to 7 pm.
Artist Marita O’Dea Glodt will present “Moments of Light – Paintings of the Berkshires” from July 1st through August 31st at the Hotel on North, 297 North Street.
Marita is a contemporary American Landscape Painter whose painting style is reminiscent of the American Tonalism period. She is inspired by the unlimited possibilities and spirituality of landscape painting. Her work is infused with subtle color effects and close values, creating atmosphere, mystery and a soft interpretation of what she sees and draws in nature and then visualizes and paints in her studio. Marita paints in oil, primarily landscapes near her homes in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and in Texas and is a member of American Women Artists, Oil Painters of America and The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
New shows from local artists will also be displayed at the following locations as part of First Fridays Artswalk: NUarts Studios and Gallery, Steven Valenti’s Clothing, The Marketplace Café, The Funky Phoenix, Berkshire Paint and Sip, The Kinderhook Group Real Estate, Berkshire Museum, Brothership Building, and Berkshire Medical Center.
First Fridays Artswalk is presented by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. Most art exhibits are on display in participating venues throughout the month. Please check with venues for hours of operation. For more information on First Fridays Artswalk and to view a listing and map of all participating artists and locations, visit www.FirstFridaysArtswalk.com.
Featured images (left to right): “North Street” by Richard Britell, “June Moon” by Marita O’Dea Glodt, “Staircase” by Chris Addams