(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Artscape, a public outdoor art exhibition, resumes its monthly tours of public art in downtown Pittsfield on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. Artist and educator Craig Langlois narrates the 90-minute tours, which conclude on Oct. 8.

Free of charge and made possible by a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Artscape Walking Tours start and end at the Pittsfield Visitors Center in the Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street. The tours began in June; remaining dates are July 30, August 27, September 24, and October 8. For more details or weather concerns, contact the Pittsfield Visitors Center at 413.499.9747.

An experienced arts educator, Langlois will lead informative and entertaining tours for the public to discover the remarkable array of sculptures and other public art installations located in the city. He will guide participants on their walk through historic downtown Pittsfield to enjoy and discuss some of the nearly 50 pieces of often-overlooked public art, including sculptures, mixed media installations, and murals. Works included in the tour are selections from the 2009-2011 Artscape installations, as well as other works from previous projects and initiatives.

Artists chosen for this year’s tour include Gillian Christy, Sarah Haviland, Marisa Dipaola, Bob Turan, Craig Gray, Dana Filibert, June Bisantz, and John Belardo. Their artworks range from a carved granite bench to a series faux-directional “art here” signs, and even include a climbing beanstalk that recalls the Aesop Fable.

Langlois has been teaching and working within the arts for more than ten years. Formerly a professor of visual art for Long Island University’s School of Visual Arts, he currently works as Coordinator of Public Programs for Berkshire Museum and is co-owner of Shack Pottery. His art has been extensively collected and exhibited both nationally and internationally. His work is included in permanent collections at the MoMA and the Victoria Albert Museum, London, among others. He holds a BFA in Art Education and an MFA in Sculpture and Ceramics.

An activity of the city of Pittsfield’s Department of Community Development, Artscape’s mission is to enhance the downtown’s character and attract visitors by installing and promoting works of art in various outdoor locations accessible to the public throughout the downtown area. Artscape includes sculptures, murals, and street signs that energize and add beauty to the city. The exhibition has been ongoing for 12 years, with new additions coming into rotation each year. A brochure describing the installations is available at several locations in Pittsfield, including the Berkshire Athenaeum, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, City Hall, the Pittsfield Visitors Center, and online at Artscape.