‘Clarity’ by Tina Sotis
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – February’s First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield takes place on Friday, February 1, 2013, from 5pm to 8pm, and features twenty two locations and over forty artists, including open studios, artist receptions, sneak previews of 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival shows, the opportunity to create your own hand-printed valentine, a free guided tour, and hot cocoa.
Two new downtown venues will participate this month: MadJack’s BBQ will feature photography by Heather Cachat, and the newly opened Maria’s European Delights will host a show entitled Heritage: B&W Photography of Poland by Sophia Lee. In addition, attendees will get to explore Museum Facsimiles’ new, expanded location at the corner of South Street and Park Square.
Free fullcolor Artswalk maps can be picked up at locations throughout downtown, or downloaded at First Fridays Artswalk.
From north to south, the following locations will be open with art to view from 5pm to 8pm:
Berkshire Medical Center, 725 North Street, 413-447-2776: An opening reception for award-winning author and Berkshire Medical Center employee Kevin O’Hara exhibit Travels with Missie: The Photographs from 3pm to 5pm in BMC’s Main Lobby.
The Lantern Restaurant, 455 North Street, 413-448-2717: iPhone photography by Douglass Truth
Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. Feline Rescue, 441 North Street, 413-997-2287: Berkshire County native Stephanie Lawton displays an excellent eye for songbirds during their spring migration in this photography exhibit shot in Cheshire.
Aerus Electrolux, 383 North Street, 413-442-1544: Artist Sharon Mongeon displays her paintings and ink drawings.
Wild Sage, 333 North Street, 413-447-7000: Recent paintings by Amy Cohen Banker based on metaphors drawn from nature.
Gallery 25, 25 Union Street: 10 well-known Berkshire County artists display one piece each: Lorraine Klagsbrun, Carolyn Newberger, Franco Pellegrino, Gerard Natale, Jackie Kearns, Pat Hogan, Scott Taylor, Joan Ciolfi, Dan Brody and Marguerite Bride. Part of the 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival (Feb. 14-24, 2013).
NUarts Studios and Gallery, 311 North Street: The Under Construction group exhibit continues featuring works-in-progress plus open studios.
TREEHOUSE Children’s Boutique, 305 North Street, 413-344-4435: An opening reception for photographs by Paul H. Hergenrother entitled Historic Doors of the Berkshires and an exhibit called 10 Shaker Faces curated by Hancock Shaker Village and part of the 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival.
Shire City Sanctuary, 40 Melville Street, 323-493-8247: Open studios featuring local printmaker Bill Clements helping you create an open screened mono print for Valentines Day, Jesse Tobin’s paintings and stylish hats, Crispina ffrench’s upcycled clothing and home goods and Wendy Darling’s opulent jewelry designs inside the former Notre Dame Church.
MadJack’s BBQ, 295 North Street, 442-2290, featuring an opening reception for a solo show of photography by Heather Cachat.
Spice Dragon, 297 North Street, 413-443-1234: Photography by David Ricci
by Marge Bride
Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery, 1 Columbus Avenue, 413-236-2116: a solo show of work by local painter Tom Fahey
Bagels, Too, 166 North Street, 413-499-0119: An ever-changing group show featuring work by Karen Carmean, Barbara Deely, Cindy Duryea, Mitch Greenwald and Margaret O’Keefe and Stanley Turnbull.
Brothership Building, 141 North Street. Storefront display of upcycled heart blanket by Crispina ffrench.
Pateez Boutique @ Crawford Square, 137 North Street, 413-499-0008: Crawford Square features artists Michael Dandley, Michael Vincent Bushy and others plus live guitar music by talented young musician Nico Wohl.
Unusual Wedding Rings and More, 137 North Street, 413-236-9300: Nicolette Enhorning-Picton’s work, entitled Here, There and (a little bit of) Everywhere features her award-winning photography of landscapes here and abroad.
Maria’s European Delights, 142 North Street, featuring an opening reception for a solo show of photography by Sophia Lee, entitled Heritage: B&W Photographs of Poland.
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, 413-499-9348: Get a sneak preview of the second annual TEN Spot invitational art exhibit featuring work by Jarvis Rockwell, Tina Sotis, Joel Curran, Maggie Mailer, Joshua Field, C. Ryder Cooley, Michael Boroniec, Paul Graubard, Eric Korenman and Susan Hartung. Their work will also be on display on ten billboards scattered through the Berkshires. Part of the 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival (Feb. 14-24, 2013).
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., 33 Dunham Mall, 413-443-6501: An opening reception for former priest, teacher and psychotherapist Ron Mercier’s heart mandalas plus a special Native American drumming meditation with Fidel Moreno.
The Marketplace Café, 53 North Street, 413-358-4777: An opening reception for a solo exhibit by Lisa Merullo called I Love Pittsfield.
Crowne Plaza, 1 West Street, 413-499-2000: Landscapes by Marge Bride.
Museum Facsimiles, 31 South Street, 413-499-0020: Celebrate Museum Facsimiles new expanded location and enjoy photography by Ken Green and Lear Levin.