July First Fridays Artswalk!

For the month of July, First Fridays Artswalk will present the first Artswalk of 2021 which will encompass a variety of indoor and outdoor locations in and around the downtown Pittsfield area.

Enjoy brand new indoor art shows, murals, and Artscape’s Pittsfield Paintboxes during the First Fridays Artswalk on Friday, July 2, 5 to 8 pm, and all month long. You can view all locations at www.FirstFridaysArtswalk.com, and new this year, you can download the PocketSights app to follow a virtual walking tour on your cell phone.

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) will present its annual art show, I Am a Part of Art, at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, July 1-July 31. I Am a Part of Art features a vibrant collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures by more than 100 artists with disabilities. A total of over 150 works of art will be on display and available for sale at the Lichtenstein and the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, with proceeds benefiting CATA programs as well as individual artists. The show can be viewed at the Lichtenstein during the First Fridays Artswalk on July 2 from 5 to 8 pm, Wednesday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm, and by appointment. Admission is free.

Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature Electric Color by Jesse Tobin McCauley for the July Artswalk. There will be a reception with the artist on Friday, July 2, 5 to 8 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk.

McCauley’s paintings are mixed media on canvas and paper – bursts of bold, bright, saturated color. They evoke a feeling of happiness through the flood of interacting abstract color.

The Brothership Building Window at 141 North Street, curated by IS183 Art School of the Berkshires, will feature The Grass Is Always Greener by Jackie Fischer for the month of July. The Grass Is Always Greener invites the viewer into a cheerful and upbeat atmosphere. As you walk around, however, you start to notice dark truths.

For the month of July, The Dot Gallery at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, 444 North Street, will feature Thompson, Galli and Barker “Obsessions”. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 2, 4 to 7 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk. Works by Kris Galli, Robert Barker, Ashley Yang-Thompson, and Diane Firtell will be exhibited.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue, will feature photographs by Linda Merry for the month of July. The show will feature photographic images of the moments that were shared between different bird species and the woman behind the lens. There will be framed photographic prints on exhibit as well as a digital exhibition showcasing additional works. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 2, 5 to 8 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk.

Artists in the Guild of Berkshire Artists will show their work in a show entitled Plein Air in the Berkshires during the month of July at TKG Real Estate, 137 North Street. There will be a reception as part of First Friday Artswalk on Friday, July 2, 5 to 8 pm. The work will be up during the month of July and can be viewed when TKG is open. Featured artists are Karen Carmean, Keith Emerling, Jon Caplan, Walt Pasko, and Pat Hogan.

Archive/Project Space at 141 North Street, Suite #1, will feature works by James Casebere for the July First Fridays Artswalk. Viewing hours are Thursday and Friday, 2 to 5 pm, and Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. The exhibition will be open throughout the month, and the gallery will be open during the First Fridays Artswalk from 5 to 8 pm on July 2.

For the month of July, The Marketplace Café, 53 North Street, will feature paintings by Shany Porras. Porras’ paintings offer a way to visually communicate what is being experienced with music. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 2, 5 to 8 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk.

The July Artswalk will also highlight murals downtown including: The Sun Will Rise by Jesse Tobin McCauley, Jay Tobin and Stephanie Quetti at 443 North Street and Gaia on Melville Street by Mike Carty. Also highlighted will be all of Artscape’s Pittsfield Paintboxes.

All art exhibits are on display in participating venues throughout the month. For more information on First Fridays Artswalk and to view a listing and map of all participating artists and locations, visit www.FirstFridaysArtswalk.com.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Featured image: InTheClouds1 by Jesse Tobin McCauley