July 5 First Fridays Artswalk
The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield returns on Friday, July 5 from 5 to 8 pm as part of the City of Pittsfield’s First Fridays at Five. Participating venues on Friday, July 5 include Berkshire Art Center, Berkshire Black Economic Council, Clock Tower Artists, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge/Dorothy’s Estaminet, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Living in Recovery, Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery, Marketplace Cafe, NUarts gallery + studios, Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, Soda Chef, and THECOLLAB. There will also be Interactive Pottery Demos in Palace Park with Jim Horsford and a Free Kids’ Paint and Sip on Dunham Mall.
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.
The Clock Tower Artists at 75 South Church Street will host an open studios event in their beautiful, light-filled space on Friday, July, 5 to 8 pm. Immerse yourself in a world of boundless creativity as you wander through the gallery and studios of our diverse Clock Tower Artists. Witness the artists’ artistic processes firsthand and be captivated by an eclectic blend of masterpieces that will enchant and inspire you.
During the First Fridays Artswalk/First Fridays at Five on July 5, a free art shuttle to and from the Clock Tower Artist Studios will run from 5 to 7 pm – every 15 minutes from City Hall on Allen Street. The Art Shuttle is provided and operated by RSVP Volunteers.
Artists with Open Studios at the Clock Tower on July 5 include Karen Carmean, Deborah H Carter, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Randy Foulds, Marion Grant, Nava Grunfeld, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, Jordan Stone, Sharon Walthew, Stefanie Weber, and Carmel Wilson.
THECOLLAB, 163 North Street, will feature artworks by Noah Beauregard and Mike Carty, July 5 – July 31. There will be an opening reception with the artists on Friday, July 5 from 5 to 8 pm, and a free Live Performance by SACR3D from 7 to 8 pm.
Noah Beauregard (b. 1996, USA) is a Berkshire County, MA painter. Drawn to painting and design and as a child, Beauregard’s art focuses on abstracting common images through form and color. Beauregard pushes recognizable scenes into a bright, bizarre world of saturated color and mythic design. The human form and un-worldly plants are common motifs in his work.
Michael Carty is a painter living and working in downtown Pittsfield. A Northeastern University graduate, he holds degrees in Graphic design, photography, and art history. His paintings reflect a union of his love for the Impressionists combined with his graffiti and graphic design background.
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, will present CATA’s “I AM A PART OF ART”, July 5 – August 20. The exhibit will be on view during the First Fridays Artswalk on July 5 from 5 to 8 pm, and there will be a free Exhibit Celebration on Thursday, July 11 from 4 to 6 pm.
I AM A PART OF ART, Community Access to the Arts’ Annual Art Show, features more than 150 paintings and drawings by artists with disabilities from across Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY. This annual exhibition is the culmination of hundreds of visual arts workshops that CATA holds throughout the year for teens, adults, and elders with disabilities across Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and Columbia County, New York. Through these workshops, CATA artists grow creatively, learn new techniques, and build community. Works in the exhibit are professionally matted and framed, and available for sale, with proceeds providing commissions to the individual artists. The curated exhibit features a wide range of styles, including abstract and representational paintings, drawings, photographs, collage, sculpture, and printmaking, as well as comics, illustration, and stop-motion animation.
The Berkshire Art Center (BAC), 141 North Street, will continue to offer Free Artmaking Drop-Ins on the First Friday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, year-round. For the month of July, The Berkshire Art Center will also feature two window displays: “All Fired Up Again: Open Call” by the Berkshire Potters Collective (north window) and “Sue Browdy, Potter: The First 65 Years” (south window).
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework, 431 North Street, will feature “Pittsfield Parade Posters Through The Years” for the July 5 First Fridays Artswalk. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 5, from 5 to 8 pm, and vintage parade posters will be available to purchase for $10. The show will be on view Monday-Friday through the end of July by visiting the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. offices during normal business hours.
The Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street, will feature still life paintings by Lori Bradley in “Biosphere” for the month of July. There will be a reception with the artist during the July 5 First Fridays Artswalk from 5 to 7 pm.
In “Biosphere”, Lori Bradley explores what we invite indoors, what we leave outdoors, and the illusion that we can separate ourselves from nature.
Lori Bradley is a painter and digital artist who divides her year between North Adams and southeastern, MA. Inspired by birds, animals, and natural forms, she creates large-and small-scale oil and acrylic paintings. Flora and fauna are often metaphors for human situations and emotions explored in her paintings. Lori taps into the mysteries and depths of her themes with layered colors and textures.
On Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm, NUarts gallery + studios, 311 North Street, will open their Hall Gallery to the public featuring the works of resident artists. The artists of NUarts include: Ma’leek Adams-Powell, Casey Dougherty, Marney Schorr, Elina Estrella, Myk Daigle, Brent Ridge, Julia Britell, Richard Britell, Madeleine Boga, Dawn Meltzer, Laura Thompson, Kathy Gideon, Joan Rooks, and Kate Merlini.
For the July 5 First Fridays Artswalk, Living in Recovery, 75 North Street, will feature artworks by Shane Ott and Jeff Malderez. Living in Recovery will also feature “the art of poetry”, with poems written by Living in Recovery members from a writing workshop led by Maurice Taylor, staff member and founder of Poetic Recovery. Words will be a written crafted expression of the impact the art on display has had on the writers. These will be posted alongside or near the artwork. Stop in from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, July 5 to explore the art and speak with the artists.
Shane Ott’s canvases are a mesmerizing journey into the dark depths of the human psyche. Hailing from Pittsfield, MA, Ott fearlessly delves into the complexities of the human experience, laying bare the raw and honest emotions that lie within all of us. With his chosen medium of Painter, Ott captures the essence of freedom, both in its elusive nature and its ultimate liberation of the soul.
Jeff Malderez is a British/French visionary artist originally hailing from the charming seaside town of Torquay, England, now residing in Pittsfield, MA.
With his masterful skill and intricate techniques, he creates stunning works that capture the essence of divinity. His pieces are an exploration of life and its intricate complexities, revealing the true beauty found within its depths. Through the medium of both digital and traditional art, Jeff aims to bridge the gap between the seen and the unseen, uniting all beings into one universal consciousness.
The Berkshire Black Economic Council, 33 Dunham Mall, Suite 101, will feature “The Creative Journey” by DeSean Scales for the July 5 First Fridays Artswalk. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 5, from 5 to 8 pm.
DeSean Scales is a self-taught photographer based in Pittsfield. In every frame, DeSean aims to capture not just an image, but a connection—a shared moment of joy, reflection, or understanding. Whether photographing people, landscapes, or objects, photography is DeSean’s way of bringing light into the world, one frame at a time.
For the month of July, Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery, 146 North Street, will feature a multi-media piece entitled TEMPEST containing the exhibit “Hidden By the Weight of Our Scales”. Hidden By the Weight of Our Scales attempts to provide moments to explore the subtlety of the human emotional landscape through illustrations by Antoine Adams. The exhibit will be on view on Friday, July 5 during the First Fridays Artswalk.
Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature Beyond the Surface: The Depth of Identity by Jody King Camarra on Friday, July 5 during the First Fridays Artswalk.
Jody King Camarra’s latest exhibit is a convergence of collage and mixed media exploring self-discovery. With each piece, the viewer is invited on an introspective odyssey. Within Camarra’s work, layers are palpable – some strikingly visible while others lie concealed beneath the surface. In this exploration, every fragment is essential to the whole, mirroring our human complexities. Through mixed media layers, Camarra’s work in this exhibit serves as a reminder to embrace both the beautiful and the flawed, the visible and veiled.
Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, 119 Fenn Street, will feature local artists during the First Fridays Artswalk on July 5 for one-night only, 5 to 8 pm. Artists include Rochely Dejesus (creating works of “raw realism”) and Hernan and Jackeline Bonilla. Mediums include drawings, paintings, and Amigurumis (knitted stuffed animals).
Dottie’s Coffee Lounge/Dorothy’s Estaminet, 438/444 North Street, will feature “FOR THE LOVE OF: Culture, The Figure, and the Landscape” on Friday, July 5. Dottie’s will remain open until 10 pm on Friday, July 5 hosting live music with local cover band, Mr. Doubtfire, from 7 to 10 pm. Mr. Doubtfire is a high-energy, five-piece group that delivers electrifying performances spanning hits from the ’60s to today. Band members are Alden Grover – Guitar and vocals, Brandon Grover – Guitar and vocals, Sam Utz – Bass and vocals, Justin Rivelli – Drums, and Cassandra Redd – Lead vocals.
“FOR THE LOVE OF: Culture, The Figure, and the Landscape” features Katunemo (a group of 13 painters, photographers, poets, and musicians who celebrate their common culture), Ernie Kirk’s photographs of the human figure, and landscape paintings by Kathy Glenn.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and First Fridays Artswalk will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm, as part of the First Fridays at Five Family Fun Zone on Dunham Mall (100 North Street).
This free Paint & Sip is best suited for ages 5 to 12, although younger and older children are welcome. All materials, instruction, and juice will be provided. Children are welcome to drop in anytime over the course of the event, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
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.
First Fridays Artswalk is supported in part by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
This program is also supported in part by The Feigenbaum Foundation.
First Fridays at Five is a brand-new event led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. taking place in downtown Pittsfield from May-September. Season partners and sponsors include: the Feigenbaum Foundation, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Mill Town Foundation, MountainOne, and the Pittsfield Cultural Council.
Event Highlights (South to North):
Artists at the Clock Tower, 75 South Church Street, Third Floor
Karen Carmean, Deborah H Carter, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Randy Foulds, Marion Grant, Nava Grunfeld, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, Jordan Stone, Sharon Walthew, Stefanie Weber, and Carmel Wilson
Open Studios: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
City Stage Entertainment (south end of the road closure on North Street near Park Square)
Amy Ryan Band: Friday, July 5, 5 to 6 pm
Misty Blues: Friday, July 5, 6 to 8 pm
Marketplace Cafe, 53 North Street
“Biosphere” by Lori Bradley
Opening Reception: Friday, July 5, 5 to 7 pm
Living in Recovery, 75 North Street
Artworks by Shane Ott and Jeff Malderez
“The art of poetry” – poems written by Living in Recovery members
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Berkshire Black Economic Council, 33 Dunham Mall, Suite 101
“The Creative Journey”
DeSean Scales
Opening Reception: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, 119 Fenn Street
Rochely Dejesus and Hernan and Jackeline Bonilla
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm ONLY
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue
“I AM A PART OF ART”
Community Access to the Arts’ Annual Art Show
Celebrating the work of artists with disabilities
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Pottery in Palace Park with Jim Horsford
Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery, 146 North Street
“Hidden By the Weight of Our Scales”
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Berkshire Art Center/Brothership Building, 141 North Street
“All Fired Up Again: Open Call” by the Berkshire Potters Collective (north window)
“Sue Browdy, Potter: The First 65 Years” (south window)
Free All Ages Art Making Drop-In: Friday, July 5, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Soda Chef, 161 North Street
Nicole March Art – Window Display
THECOLLAB, 163 North Street
Noah Beauregard and Mike Carty
Opening Reception: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Free Live Performance by SACR3D from 7 to 8 pm
Sottile Park, corner of North and Eagle Street
Live Art Demo with Mollie Kellogg
Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Hotel on North, 297 North Street
“Beyond the Surface: The Depth of Identity”
Jody King Camarra
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
NUarts gallery + studios, 311 North Street
View the Hall Gallery featuring the works of resident artists.
Ma’leek Adams-Powell, Casey Dougherty, Marney Schorr, Elina Estrella, Myk Daigle, Brent Ridge, Julia Britell, Richard Britell, Madeleine Boga, Dawn Meltzer, Laura Thompson, Kathy Gideon, Joan Rooks, and Kate Merlini
On View: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework, 431 North Street
“Pittsfield Parade Posters Through The Years”
Opening Reception: Friday, July 5, 5 to 8 pm
Dottie’s Coffee Lounge/Dorothy’s Estaminet, 438/444 North Street
“FOR THE LOVE OF: Culture, The Figure, and the Landscape”
On View: Friday, July 5 until 10 pm
Live music with local cover band, Mr. Doubtfire, from 7 to 10 pm
Featured images in header (clockwise left to right): Mike Carty, Marion Grant, Noah Beauregard, Lori Bradley, Rory Adams of CATA, Edward Pelkey