Enjoy a dozen art shows and exhibits during the First Fridays Artswalk on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm. Explore art and meet artists during opening receptions on the first Friday of the month from 5 to 8 pm, with most art on display all month long. Download the Downtown Pittsfield app in the App Store or on Google Play to follow a virtual walking tour of art on your cell phone.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will present Indoors Out! Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Friday, July 1, 5 to 7:30 pm, at the parklet and outdoor seating area at The Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street. Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will also present Indepen-DANCE by Boxxa Vine on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm, at Persip Park, 175 North Street. (More information is below.)
Methuselah Bar and Lounge, 391 North Street, will present Dramatic Themes/ Cosmic Dust- The Paintings of Edward Pelkey in their Tartell Gallery, July 1 through September 30. There will be a reception on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm, during First Fridays Artswalk.
“Using the title motifs of Production Music or Library Music I have assembled a group of paintings depicting dramatic action and interplanetary elements,” says Pelkey. “I have not only borrowed elements from other forms and styles, I have used, as the starting point or ground, the artwork of other artists. Purchasing pre-existing works of art in thrift shops and antique stores, I use these pieces as the foundation of a new piece of artwork. I sometimes completely obliterate the pre-existing image, other times the artist becomes an unwilling collaborator, as I allow elements of the previous work to remain unchanged and survive the new piece.”
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, will present “I Am a Part of Art” for the month of July. The exhibit will be on view July 1 through July 28 and will be on view during the First Fridays Artswalk on July 1 from 5 to 8 pm.
A celebration of creativity and inclusion, Community Access to the Arts’ annual art exhibit “I Am a Part of Art” features more than 150 vibrant paintings, drawings, and sculptures created by CATA artists with disabilities from across Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY. There will be a free exhibit celebration on Wednesday, July 13, from 5 to 7 pm.
TJ Guachione, participating artist, “I Am a Part of Art”
Lee Bank, 75 North Street, will present Fine Art Photographer and Digital Artist, Nicole March, for the month of July. This will be a window display on view throughout the month.
Nicole March is an emerging artist born and raised in the Berkshires. “Creation begins with shooting pictures, often nature-related on a macro level, emphasizing fine details easily overlooked,” says March. “I then digitally adjust components of the image including hues and layers… and the unconventional result is paired with an equally unique medium, metallic printing.”
Nicole March
For the month of July, TKG Real Estate, 137 North Street, is proud to present two photographers who approach photography with a painterly eye. Janet Pumphrey and Bruce Panock stretch their medium and craft their images into something entirely new, surprising, and unique. Therefore, they are “Photographer as Painter”.
There will be a reception as part of First Fridays Artswalk on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm. The work will be up during the month of July and can be viewed when TKG Real Estate is open.
The Brothership Building Window at 141 North Street, curated by Berkshire Art Center (formerly known as IS183 Art School of the Berkshires), will feature the Berkshire Art Center Gallery Shop Pop-UP July 1 through July 31.
All work displayed in the Brothership Window Gallery will be for sale! There will be items listed with QR codes, so you can use your phones to buy the work. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email and pick-up information. All work sold during the month of July will be ready for pick-up by August 4. 30% of sales support Berkshire Art Center’s programming and 70% support artists in our community.
The artists at the historic Clock Tower would like to welcome the community to their first open studios in this newly founded arts location in Pittsfield! Five established, visual artists will open their new studios to share their art and provide insight into their creative processes.
The artists’ studios are located on the third floor of the Clock Tower at 75 South Church Street which offers free parking and an elevator. The artists at the Clock Tower are Joanie Ciolfi, Marion Grant, Caroline Kelley, Mark Mellinger, Shany Porras, Ilene Richard, and Sally Tiska-Rice.
Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature CYCLE THERAPY – watercolor on the move by Marguerite Bride for the July Artswalk. The show will be on view through July 31.
“We all found different ways to ‘muddle through’ the past few of years of upsetting news. I knew my ‘comfort zone’ would include lots of painting, but I also knew I needed a focus,” says Bride. “After lots of thinking, and false starts, I found my ‘therapy’ in painting bicycles, hopefully creating interesting ways to depict one of our favorite modes of recreation, transportation, exercise, adventure, and just plain fun.”
CYCLE THERAPY – watercolor on the move by Marguerite Bride
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue, will present a show by oil painter and watercolorist, David King, for the month of July. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk, and the art will be on display through July 24.
David King
The Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street, will present travel photography by Shaun Harmon for the month of July. There will be a reception with the artist as part of First Fridays Artswalk from 5 to 7:30 pm on July 1.
Shaun Harmon
Thrive Diner, 145 Wahconah Street, will be showing off their new mural “Thrive Blooms” by Diane Firtell.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will present Indepen-DANCE by Boxxa Vine on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm, at Persip Park, 175 North Street. Everyone is welcome to join Boxxa Vine for a free pop-up dance party at Persip Park as she DJs and performs hourly, moving and grooving to start the Fourth of July weekend! There will be giveaways, performances, music, and more.
Boxxa Vine is a Pittsfield-based drag queen and costume creator with a flair for the dramatic and theatrical. A self-taught seamstress who has worked on pieces that have appeared locally, across the country, and on shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and The View, she is also a six-time pageant title holder (Miss Gay: Western MA, Boston, Central NY, Camp Capital NY, Werrrk.com, and Berkshire). She spends most of her free time trying to get new and exciting drag events going around the Berkshires through her business Out of the Boxxa Productions.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will also present Indoors Out! Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Friday, July 1, 5 to 7:30 pm, at the parklet and outdoor seating area at The Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street. This free event is best suited for ages 5 to 12, although older children are welcome. All materials, instruction, snacks, and juice will be provided. July’s painting theme will be fireworks. Children must be accompanied by an adult and masks are recommended. In case of rain, visit downtownpittsfield.com for an alternate location or cancellation.
Indoors Out! Free Kids’ Paint & Sip and Indepen-DANCE by Boxxa Vine are presented by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and funding has been provided by the Commonwealth Places Program created by MassDevelopment. These events are presented in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk.
Other participating venues are ReDefine (5 Melville Street), The Funky Phoenix (441 North Street), and Soma’s Aromas (81 East Street).
For more information on First Fridays Artswalk, visit firstfridaysartswalk.com or call 413-443-6501.
Quick Event Highlights:
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will present Indoors Out! Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Friday, July 1, 5 to 7:30 pm, at the parklet and outdoor seating area at The Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will present Indepen-DANCE by Boxxa Vine on Friday, July 1, 5 to 8 pm, at Persip Park, 175 North Street.
Artists at the Clock Tower
75 South Church Street, Third Floor
Marion Grant
Caroline Kelley
Shany Porras
Ilene Richard
Sally Tiska-Rice
Open Studios: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
Brothership Building Window
141 North Street, curated by Berkshire Art Center
Berkshire Art Center Gallery Shop Pop-UP
Window Display
Hotel on North
297 North Street
CYCLE THERAPY – watercolor on the move
Marguerite Bride
On View: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
Lee Bank
75 North Street
Fine Art Photography & Digital Art
Nicole March
Window Display
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue
Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents
“I AM A PART OF ART”
On View: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
Methuselah Bar and Lounge
391 North Street
Dramatic Themes/ Cosmic Dust
The Paintings of Edward Pelkey
Reception: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
Soma’s Aromas
81 East Street
Art and Photography
Store Hours: July 1, 12 to 8 pm
TKG Real Estate
137 North Street
“Photographer as Painter”
Janet Pumphrey and Bruce Panock
Reception: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
The Marketplace Cafe
53 North Street
Photography by Shaun Harmon
Reception: July 1, 5 to 7:30 pm
Thrive Diner
145 Wahconah Street
Mural “Thrive Blooms”
Diane Firtell
Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield
175 Wendell Avenue
Oil paintings and watercolors
David King
Reception: July 1, 5 to 8 pm
Other participating venues are ReDefine (5 Melville Street) and The Funky Phoenix (441 North Street).
Featured header images (left to right): Nicole March and Bruce Panock