Jon Ahlen
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Works by master silkscreen artist Jon Ahlen, a Pittsfield native, will inaugurate the Shire City Sanctuary Gallery with a solo exhibition, opening with an artist’s reception on Friday, February 6, 2015, from 5 to 8pm.
Ahlen began his printing career as a young man at Pittsfield-based Editions Limited, a high-end silk screen studio, where reproductions of artists like Picasso, Calder and Matisse were produced for numerous museums and galleries around the world. He continued his printing career until his retirement in 2013. Ahlen’s prints include images made with over 100 screens.
Shire City Sanctuary is located in the heart of Pittsfield. It is the first Makerspace in the Berkshires offering screen-printing and commercial sewing equipment, studio, event, meeting, teaching, and presentation space. Workspace, collaboration, tutorials and classes are available to members. Shire City Sanctuary also houses a production kitchen available for food-based businesses. Shire City Sanctuary is a key player in the Berkshires’ creative economy, in an area long renowned for both its natural beauty and sustainable creativity.
‘Berkshire Hills by Jon Ahlen
Crispina ffrench and her husband, Chris Swindlehurst, own Shire City Sanctuary. ffrench is an environmental textile artist working with used clothing to create home furnishings, clothing, and accessories. Crispina began her career while a student at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 1987 before recycling was a household word. Since then, her work has been featured in high-end retail establishments from Fiorucci, Anthropologie, and Sundance to ABC Carpet and Home. Publications including the New York Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, Country Living, Martha Stewart Living, Elle Décor and the New Yorker have featured her work. Crispina ran a recycling manufacturing company for many years. In 2009 her teaching book, “The Sweater Chop Shop,” was published by Storey Publishing. Since then, Chris and Crispina have focused their energy on repurposing the former Notre Dame church now known as Shire City Sanctuary.
Shire City Sanctuary, 40 Melville St., Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-236-9600
11-7 daily, 11-4 W, Closed Sundays