Berkshire Art Center

What’s happening next weekend at Berkshire Art Center? We’ve got THREE new workshops coming up with faculty artists, Jill Gustavis, Stacy Scibelli and Robert Cohen! Check out when each are happening and learn more about these exciting workshops below!

Come “Master the Color Wheel” with watercolor instructor, Jill Gustavis, as you practice the basics of color theory and learn about complimentary colors, triads, color harmony, mixing neutrals and working in a limited palette. Jill will be demonstrating in watercolor and gouache, but is also able to advise to some degree on acrylic and oil as well!

Our Ventfort Hall Berkshire Artist-In-Residence, Stacy Scibelli, is offering a new multigenerational workshop, “Mud Dumplings,” which will introduce you to mud sculpture and natural building techniques. You’ll learn how to make polished Dorodango balls, a Japanese art form in which earth and water are combined and moulded, then carefully polished to create a shiny sphere.

Join fiber artist, Robert Cohen, for “Botanical Weaving,” a multigenerational workshop where you’ll learn to use a stick loom to create unique, organic art pieces! The art form involves foraging for natural materials, like leaves, flowers and grades for weaving into your design. People of all ages are welcome to participate and families can work together to create their weaving!

Interested in joining one of these workshops? Visit our website, berkshireartcenter.org/classes, to register today!

Don’t miss joining an upcoming class with Jill Gustavis this fall, register at berkshireartcenter.org/classes today! 🎨✨

Calling all fiber artists! Are you looking to create beautiful, tactile pieces from scratch? Come join our upcoming Felting For Beginners course starting next Wednesday, September 18th, with faculty artist, Kaily Ritz, in our Stockbridge studios!

In this 6-week, hands-on class, you’ll be introduced to the basics of both needle and wet felting techniques. You’ll learn to sculpt with wool using needles and transform fibers into felted fabric using water and soap. Whether you’re completely new to felting or looking to expand your skills, this class provides a relaxed and friendly environment to explore your creativity and craft one-of-a-kind felted creations!

Don’t wait, sign up at berkshireartcenter.org/classes today! 🧶✨

In case you missed joining us last month, our Residency Artist Talk is now available to watch on our YouTube channel!

Click the link below to watch our panel discussion featuring our five Berkshire Artists-In-Residence: Kara Smith (Red Lion Inn), Stacy Scibelli (Ventfort Hall), Dai Ban (Chesterwood), Kyle Strack (Chesterwood) and Grigori Fateyev (Chesterwood). We want to thank each artist for sharing their unique experiences working at these remarkable historic sites and showcasing the amazing work they’ve created this summer!

Watch the talk here: https://youtu.be/IC0YSn1kDcI

Get your library card and come visit us at 141 North Street in Pittsfield to redeem our special discount for National Library Card Sign-Up Month! 📚✨

Tonight is the LAST First Fridays at Five in Downtown Pittsfield this year so don’t miss stopping by the Brothership Building at 141 North Street to check out our two NEW window exhibitions from 5-8pm!

On view in our South Gallery Window is “Superheroes of Creativity: The Arts and Assembly Department at Blue Q,” a retrospective of work from Blue Q classes with Community Access to the Arts. Stay tuned for more details about their opening reception happening later this month!

And showing in our North Gallery Window is “Surprise…Botanicals” by BAC faculty artist, Diane Firtell, featuring paintings and mixed media digital collages! Diane will be on site for the opening of her show this evening from 5:30-7:30pm, plus we’ve got Free Drop-In Art Making with Ian Prishwalko happening inside our studio at the same time too!

Don’t miss a fun evening filled with art for everyone! 🎨✨

We’ve just added another NEW class to our Fall Session 1 lineup with faculty artist, Jody King Camarra, in our Stockbridge studios!

"Experimenting with Monoprint" introduces you to the art of monoprinting, a unique printmaking technique where each print is one-of-a-kind, combining elements of painting, drawing, and printmaking. In this class, you'll experiment with layering, textures, and unconventional materials while exploring your individual artistic interests.

With a focus on creativity and personal expression, you'll have the freedom to push boundaries and discover new ways to create bold, dynamic prints. This course is perfect for beginner or advanced level artists eager to break the mold and develop their own unique style in the versatile world of monoprinting!

Interested in joining? Head on over to berkshireartcenter.org/classes to register today!

New class alert! Our Fundamentals of Drawing class is BACK this fall starting next Wednesday, September 11th, in our Pittsfield studio!

Led by faculty artist, Lee Everett, this evening drawing class will begin with the basic techniques for drawing 3D objects using perspective, composition and shading. Start with simple forms and work with still lifes utilizing different rendering styles before continuing with the natural world including plants and landscapes. The next stage will cover portrait drawing including self-portraits, then you’ll explore figure drawing and study the draping of clothing. There will be a live model for the final two classes in the session.

Don’t wait, sign up at berkshireartcenter.org/classes now! ✍️

We’re kicking off a beautiful start to the fall season with the opening of a new exhibition, “Surprise…Botanicals” by faculty artist, Diane Firtell, happening this Friday, September 6th, from 5:30-7:30pm at 141 North Street in Pittsfield as part of First Fridays at Five!

On view in our North Gallery Window through September 30th, Diane’s exhibit features new work including paintings and mixed media digital collages. There will also be a selection of limited edition prints by Diane available for purchase in the lobby during the opening.

Planning to check out this new exhibition on Friday? Stop into our Pittsfield studio for our LAST Free Drop-In Art Making event of the year!

Families and people of all ages are welcome to join faculty artist, Ian Prishwalko, for a fun watercolor exploration project from 5:30-7:30pm this Friday! Our Free Drop-Ins will pick back up again when the First Fridays at Five season returns in May 2025. (Note: Our Free Parent & Me Art Meetups will still continue to occur on the 4th Saturday of every month (excluding December!))

Learn more about these events by visiting berkshireartcenter.org/upcoming-events today! 🎨✨

Happy September! Did you know September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month? To celebrate, local businesses in partnership with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., are offering special discounts to Berkshire Athenaeum library card holders!

Berkshire Art Center is excited to participate this year and we’re offering all Berkshire Athenaeum library cardholders a 15% off discount on Gallery Shop items or an upcoming Pittsfield class!

It’s easy to take advantage of our discount, simply show your library card in-person at our Pittsfield location (141 North Street) at the time of purchase to redeem either offer. Some exclusions may apply.

Don’t have a library card at the Berkshire Athenaeum yet? It’s FREE to get one! Learn more at pittsfieldlibrary.org today! And be sure to visit us and redeem your library card discount this month when we’re open Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm in the Brothership Building at 141 North Street!

Save the date! Our Red Lion Inn Artist-In-Residence, Kara Smith, is gearing up for the opening of her exhibition, “Room 322: A Visual Investigation,” happening next Saturday, September 7th, from 3-5pm!

On view in the Sun Room at the Red Lion Inn, Kara’s exhibition features her newest collection of paintings, prints and mixed media work driven by an interest in memory, visual storytelling and modes of communication. In some of the pieces, the composition was directly influenced by found artifacts and ephemera from the vast history of the Inn. In other cases, the work is influenced by Kara’s personal experience of walking the halls and working in the building soaking up the textures, colors, shapes and sounds of the space. Her works explore the idea that a place holds more than just its physical form; it holds a deep energy that infuses a place, transcends time and highlights the interconnectedness of past and present within its walls.

We can’t wait to see you at Kara’s exhibition opening next weekend! We also want to give special thanks to the Stockbridge Cultural Council and Lenox Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, for supporting our Berkshire Artist Residency Program! 🎨✂️✨

Do you enjoy photography and hiking? Come join instructor, Thaddeus Kubis, on September 8th for the first Photography Hike of our our fall season and explore Canoe Meadows using any camera system of your choice!

A long lens will enable you in capturing images of Ospreys, otters and more as you hike along the edge of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield. The complexity level (beginner) pertains to the hiking terrain, not the photographic skill level. All photographers are welcome so sign up at berkshireartcenter.org/classes today! 📸🥾🏞️

Exciting announcement! Join us this Friday, August 30th, from 5:30-7pm for an opening reception of our 2024 Berkshire Artist Residency exhibition at Chesterwood!

This exhibition, “Chesterwood Reimagined: Architecture and Sculpture in Dialogue”, features the work of our three Chesterwood artists, Dai Ban, Grigori Fateyev and Kyle Strack. Located in the Morris Center Studio at Chesterwood, this group exhibition will be on view during Chesterwood’s regular open hours, Wednesdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until September 22nd, 2024. Entrance to the Morris Center Studio is free, however, admission tickets are required if you would like to tour the contemporary sculpture show on the grounds or visit the historic Studio.

Stay tuned for more details on our other upcoming residency exhibitions at the Red Lion Inn and Ventfort Hall coming soon! We hope to see you at the opening! ✨

Wrapping up an amazing summer of art camp with a final show. See you next summer!

Join us in welcoming Kaily Ritz as a faculty artist at Berkshire Art Center!

Kaily Ritz, born and raised in New York, earned her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy in 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. As an art therapist and educator, she discovered her path through personal experiences and a love of artistic expression. Her creative interests span ceramics, painting, felting, and drawing, and she especially enjoys playing with colors and abstract shapes. She feels passionately about helping everyone tap into their creativity and express themselves.

This fall, Kaily will be teaching two NEW classes, Felting for Beginners and Creative Calm: Stress Management Through Art-Making for Teens and Tweens, in our Stockbridge studios! Tap below to learn more about each class and head on over to berkshireartcenter.org/classes to register for one or both today!

(Headshot image provided by Kaily Ritz)

Today we worked on patchwork collage animals inspired by Elmer and story cubes.

.jodycreates here taking over Berkshire Art Center’s Instagram for the week as we explore collage and picture book illustration in ‘once upon a collage’ with the 5-7 year olds! Off to a great start…

We had a great week using recycled materials to make art at BAC! These kids are so creative

Wrap up the end of your summer by joining us to make functional art for your home in our upcoming DIY Decoupage Coasters workshop happening August 29th in our Stockbridge studios!

Led by faculty artist, Marsha Edell, this workshop will teach you the steps to create a set of four unique, waterproof ceramic tile coasters. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring in any decorative papers or napkins you may have!

Learn more and grab your spot in this exciting end of summer workshop by visiting berkshireartcenter.org/classes today!

Today we experimented with collagraph printmaking techniques. .jodycreates

Don’t forget! Join us this THURSDAY evening in our Stockbridge studios for our Berkshire Artist Residency Talk with our FIVE summer resident artists: Dai Ban (Chesterwood), Grigori Fateyev (Chesterwood), Kyle Strack (Chesterwood), Stacy Scibelli (Ventfort Hall) and Kara Smith (Red Lion Inn)!

Hear from each artist as they share their unique experiences working at these remarkable historic sites and provide a glimpse into their works in progress. Come gain insight into their creative processes and engage with the artists as they explore the intersection of art and history.

Visit berkshireartcenter.org/artist-talks to register and join us for the event!

Hi there, .jodycreates here taking over Berkshire Art Center’s Instagram account! Follow our creative adventures in ‘Reduce, Reuse and Create: Collage, Assemblage and Scrap Sculpture’. Today we talked about sustainability and environmental activism, made surrealist collage, eco-identity maps and 3D assemblage with found objects. Can’t wait to see everything these creative teens/tweens make this week!

https://linktr.ee/jodykingcamarra

With summer starting to wind down, we’re excited to announce that our Fall Session 1 classes are officially OPEN for registration!

Come explore ceramics, collage, drawing, painting, photography, weaving and so much more this fall in our Stockbridge and Pittsfield studios as well as at some off-site locations in the Berkshires.

Visit berkshireartcenter.org/classes to see a full list of courses and workshops and register TODAY! 🍁✨

📣 Exciting news! 📣

Join us for an in-person Artist Talk next Thursday, August 15th, at our Stockbridge studios with our five summer Artists in Residence: Stacy Scibelli (Ventfort Hall), Dai Ban (Chesterwood), Kyle Strack (Chesterwood), Grigori Fateyev (Chesterwood) and Kara Smith (Red Lion Inn)!

Each artist will share their unique experiences working at these remarkable historic sites and provide a glimpse into their works in progress. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain insight into the creative process and engage with the artists as they explore the intersection of art and history.

Don't miss this inspiring evening, visit berkshireartcenter.org/artist-talks to register!

🔔 Upcoming class alert! 🔔

Come join one of our Berkshire Artists-in-Residence, .strack, for an exciting new class “Natural Phenomena Representation” starting this Sunday, August 11th, in our Stockbridge studios!

In this 5-week course, you will discuss natural phenomena (sunrises, tidal flow, erosion, fog, etc.), how they make you feel, and your own individual experiences. To begin, this class will start with you creating an abstract representation of a phenomenon in the medium of your choice. This could include drawing, painting, writing, collage, photography, or even computer designs! Taking inspiration from that abstract work, you will then interpret it into a three dimensional ceramic sculpture. This final representation of your natural phenomenon may portray your view and emotion when thinking about or experiencing it. Some experience in a 2D medium and/or ceramics is helpful though not required!

Don’t miss out, head on over to berkshireartcenter.org/classes (link in bio) to sign up and grab your spot today!

Before I sign off from this IG takeover, I wanted to share a few photos of the awesome camp that my son attended, right next door to the 5-7 Retro Remix camp. Johanna Merfeld led the 8-10 yr olds in You Are Here: Exploring Identity Through Personal Mapmaking. It was great to witness the creative explorations right next door and my son had an absolute blast!

Its , teaching 5–7 year olds in a weeklong camp called RETRO REMIX.

What an amazing week! These young artists in the 5-7 Retro Remix Camp at Berkshire Art Center had such a fun week immersed in vintage and retro culture, art, music and fashion.

Its , teaching 5–7 year olds in a weeklong camp called RETRO REMIX.