‘Target Practice’ by Merudjina Normil
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – “Othering,” a juried exhibition featuring works by a diverse mix of nearly three dozen artists from around the Northeast, opens at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Friday, November 4, with a free reception from 5pm to 8pm. The reception takes place during Pittsfield’s monthly First Fridays Artswalk.
Over a dozen local Berkshire County artists are included in the show, including Jeanet Ingalls, Stephen Lussier, Carrie Converse, Nate Massari, Jared Gelormino, Katherine Haig, Michael King, Dorothy Martell, Nate Massari, Merudjina Normil, Wilma Rifkin, Joan Rooks, Freya Segal, Marcelene Mosca, and Ilene Spiewak.
Other artists include Julianne Jones, Steve Suzuki, Dina Noto, Azadeh Tajpour, Adina Patroi, Janell O’Rourke, Muriel Angelil, scrap wrenn, Nooshin Rostami, Utsa Hazarika, Joseph Diggs, Jody MacDonald, Thomas Crouch, Aubrey Roemer, Kate Sullivan, Angelina Lin, Jenna Rothstein, Jessica Poser, Amanda Konishi and Penny Santy.
“Othering” refers to the unwelcome experience of being treated differently simply because of who you are or what you look like. The exhibition by that name is the Berkshire Art Association’s (BAA) biennial juried show. According to a prepared statement, “The BAA sought perspectives reflecting experiences of exclusion, marginalization and separation, dealing in themes of (but not limited to) race, health, religion, class, gender, sexuality, age, (dis)ability, and neurodivergence.”
‘Gay’ by Steve Suzuki
Artists represented in the exhibit range from a 20-year veteran of the U.S. military who served two tours in Iraq to an African-American Pittsfield High School graduate now studying art at Williams. Artworks featured in “Othering” include photography, painting, video, drawing, mixed media, and fiber art.
“The BAA is about bringing the community together through visual art,” said BAA President Danielle Steinmann in a prepared statement. “However, we are very aware that there are some artists who feel excluded because society views them as ‘different’ in some way. We chose the theme of ‘Othering’ in order to create a space for these artists to share their work. We hope that the exhibition will encourage viewers to celebrate difference and think about how we can all be more welcoming and inclusive.”
The exhibition will remain on display through November 26 at the city-owned Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, located at 28 Renne Avenue. Gallery hours are 11am to 4pm, Wednesday through Saturday, and admission is free.