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First Fridays Artswalk Expands on May 5!
May 5, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield returns on Friday, May 5 from 5 to 8 pm. Thanks to grant support from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council, and The Feigenbaum Foundation, First Fridays Artswalk will expand in 2023 with new programming including an Art Market on Dunham Mall, live music in Persip Park, and live art demonstrations. The popular Free Kids’ Paint & Sip will return to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in May and will move outdoors later in the season. Click here to view our digital guided tour of all events!
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and CozQuest Creative, will be curating an Art Market on Dunham Mall on the first Friday from 5 to 8 pm May through October 2023. The first Art Market on May 5 will feature the following artists and artisans, plus two food vendors (Shire Donuts and La Chalupa Y La Enchilada):
Crystal Nest: Handmade jewelry
Lee Wendling: Dot art, mandalas on canvas, earrings
Robert Bertolino: Acrylic on canvas, India Ink drawings, watercolors
Terrapin Naturals Apothecary: Handcrafted, all-natural bath and body products and herbal supplements
THANKYOUSEAN: Art prints, apparel, and more
The Berkshire Pine: Art, woodwork, stickers, handbags, decorated décor, and functional items
The Painted Owl Studio (J Megan Smithers): Eclectic mix of art, sculptures, jewelry, altar items, mini altars, and ceramics
Berkshire Pride: Fundraising branded merch and informational materials
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and Christine Bilé, will also be curating musical performers for Persip Park during the First Fridays Artswalk, May through October 2023. Singer/Songwriter, Katherine Winston, will perform May 5, 5 to 8 pm, at the park located at 175 North Street.
Katherine is an American Idol alum whose music is a stunning blend of country, folk, and pop. Inspired by the likes of Stevie Nicks, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandi Carlile, she will pull you right in with her honest, relatable lyrics and her emotional, powerful voice.
Erin Laundry, owner of Pittsfield’s Bottomless Bricks, will be hosting a free, drop-in LEGO® Community Quilt Art Project on May 5 from 5 to 8 pm at Framework, Pittsfield Coworking, 437 North Street. The community is invited to make art using LEGO® elements by visiting the Creation Station at Framework to decorate a LEGO® square to be added to a Community Quilt. This event is open to all ages, and it is free to participate.
At Sotille Park, 200 North Street, Jim Horsford will be hosting a free live pottery demonstration where he will be inviting individuals to help him make pots on the potter’s wheel. Jim spent 30 years as an art teacher at Herberg Middle School from 1978 to 2008. Currently, he teaches pottery on the wheel at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts where he has been since 2000.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip sponsored by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., First Fridays Artswalk, and the Mass Cultural Council on Friday, May 5, 5 to 7 pm, in the auditorium at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East Street.
This free Spring-themed Paint & Sip (perfect for making Mother’s Day gifts) is best suited for ages 5 to 12, although younger and older children are welcome. All materials, instruction, snacks, 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. The auditorium is on the second floor of the parish house, and the entrance is on Allen Street.
Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature an opening reception for “PASSAGES”, abstract paintings by Mary Davidson, on May 5, 5 to 8 pm. NUarts gallery + studios, 311 North Street, will open their Hall Gallery featuring the works of resident artists and will highlight their featured artist, Laura Dickstein Thompson, on May 5, 5 to 8 pm.
Soma’s Aromas, 81 East Street, will host a reception with Perry Nash of Hancock Woodturning on May 5, 5 to 8 pm, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue, will feature Art Quilts by Kathryn Wedderburn, and host a reception on May 5, 5 to 8 pm.
The Clock Tower Artists at 75 South Church Street will host an open studios event in their beautiful and ever-expanding space every First Friday of the month through December, from 5 to 8 pm, starting on May 5th, and the Berkshire Art Center (BAC), 141 North Street, will continue to offer Free Family Drop-Ins on the First Friday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, year-round.
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 as well as a grant awarded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation.
Event Highlights (South to North):
Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield
175 Wendell Avenue
Art Quilts by Kathryn Wedderburn
Reception: May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Artists at the Clock Tower
75 South Church Street, Third Floor
Deborah H. Carter, Joanie Colfi, Marion H. Grant, Stacey Healy, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, and Stefanie Weber
Open Studios: Friday, May 5, 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday, May 6, 11 am to 4 pm
Soma’s Aromas
81 East Street
Perry Nash of Hancock Woodturning
Reception: May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Free Drop-in Kids’ Paint & Sip
Auditorium at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
67 East Street, enter on Allen Street
Friday, May 5, 5 to 7 pm
The Marketplace Cafe
53 North Street
Photography by Edward Acker
On View: May 5, 5 to 6 pm
Art Market on Dunham Mall
Artists, Artisans, Local-makers, and Food Vendors
May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue
Pittsfield High School Senior AP Art & Design students
present their senior portfolio sustained investigations
On View: May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Berkshire Art Center/Brothership Building
141 North Street
“Rags to Riches Textile Upcycling” by Crispina ffrench
Window Display
“New Nostalgia” by Jody King Camarra
Window Display
Reception with Jody King Camarra: May 5, 5 to 7 pm
Free Family Art Making Drop-In: May 5, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Soda Chef
161 North Street
Nicole March Art
Window Display
Persip Park
175 North Street
Live music from Singer/Songwriter Katherine Winston
May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Sotille Park
200 North Street
Free, live and interactive Pottery Demonstration with Jim Horsford
May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Hotel on North
297 North Street
“PASSAGES”
Abstract Paintings by Mary Davidson
Reception: May 5, 5 to 8 pm
NUarts gallery + studios
311 North Street
Tour NUarts’ Hall Gallery featuring the works of resident artists
Featured artist: Laura Dickstein Thompson
Reception: May 5, 5 to 8 pm
Framework, Pittsfield Coworking
437 North Street
Free, drop-in LEGO® Community Quilt Art Project
with Bottomless Bricks
May 5, 5 to 8 pm