Fiona Breslin reports from Pittsfield.The 10×10 RAP (Real Art Party) opening reception, held on February 20, at the Berkshire Museum, was the embodiment of why our region can prove to be so stimulating. On an otherwise quiet night on North Street, the opening was a commingling of more than 70 artists and their eye-catching works of 100 pieces. Ten-inch-square artwork hung across a wall on the museum's first floor gallery — drawings, prints, textiles, photography, and ceramic art, depicting everything from a portrait of Dick Tracy to a still-life film portrait of the rural woods of western Massachusetts. The evening included a drawing for the artwork (MC'd by Berkshire Bank's Mark Tomasi, pictured above, with Lawrence Klein) that continued until every piece had been selected. While, with some exceptions, the Berkshires has yet to be dubbed a mecca for the visual arts, 10x10 more than challenged that notion, visible evidence that there's definitely something starting to brew in every nook here.
Lucas Jones and Sam Barnes; exhibiting artists Mark Mellinger, Susan Geller, and Barbara Schmick.
Lil Tobin and exhbiting artist Jesse Tobin; Sydney Najimy and Kylie Taikowski.
Exhibiting artist Michael Vincent Bushy, Berkshire Museum's Jenn Gomez, Mark Pedrotti, and Danielle Steinmann.
Scott Plante and Amy LaCrosse; exhibiting artists Autumn Ni Dubhghaill and Michael Vincent Bushy.
Museum director Van Shields with Mark Tomasi and artist Peggy Rivers; NYU student Alexa Green and exhibiting artist Ken Green.
Joseph Bongini and Holly Leskovitz; exhibiting artist Anne Pasko with Jeff Roudabush and Laura Roudabush.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
