(STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.) – The quaint, Norman Rockwell village of Stockbridge will play host to the Stockbridge Art Lab, a series of “pop-up” galleries based at local businesses exhibiting the work of IS183 Art School’s faculty artists, from Friday, May 3, 2013, through June 3, 2013. This wide-ranging, interactive community spectacle will be free and open to the public, with an opening at Hall’s Garage on Friday, May 3, at 5pm, with ‘galleries’ open for viewing from 6pm to 8 pm rain or shine.

A number of local businesses will turn into pop-up galleries to host segments of this wide-ranging show. The exhibition will lead visitors through a progressive walking tour of Stockbridge that includes The Red Lion Inn, Berkshire Bank, Elm Street Market, Hall’s Garage, Stockbridge Coffee, Salon 7, Main Street Café, and the Stockbridge Library.

Stockbridge Art Lab marks the first full faculty show for IS183, the largest employer of artists in the region. Curated by IS183 staffer Lucie Castaldo, this exhibition presents the breadth and diversity of over 70 local, regional, national, and international artists, who practice and teach a full spectrum of media expanding across ceramics, fiber arts, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, jewelry, mixed media, experimental animation, digital design, and literary and dramatic arts. As part of its mission to enrich the community through hands-on experience in art making, IS183 is committed to providing the Berkshire area with direct access to professional artists; Stockbridge Art Lab spotlights this outstanding wealth of talent and makes it available to the community.

All Stockbridge Art Lab locations will be listed on the Art Lab map, which will be available at area businesses and all gallery locations. Attendees can start at Hall’s Garage during the May 3rd opening, and visit each of the participating galleries that evening.  Artists will be on-hand at each location to speak about their work and can finish the Ark Walk at the Red Lion Inn, for wine, dinner and dancing.

“The core of what we do at IS183 Art School is to make the amazing artistic talent that is present in our region accessible to the community,” said Hope Sullivan, executive director of IS183 Art School.  “The 75 artist-educators who deliver classes, workshops, intensives, in school programs and camps each year are truly the strength and pride of the art school. I am thrilled to finally have a venue appropriate to their talent, an entire town in fact.”

IS183, Art School of the Berkshires is a not-for-profit community art school based in the Interlaken village of Stockbridge, MA whose mission is to encourage people of all ages, means and skill levels to enrich their lives through hands-on experience in the visual arts. IS183 offers year-round programs in ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts, sculpture, animation, mixed media, photography, collage, jewelry and more for children, teens and adults — at locations throughout Berkshire County through collaborative partnerships with schools and other cultural organizations. Programs are offered daytime, evenings and weekends, for all levels — from the absolute beginner to the professional artist.