The Berkshires is betting on artists and other creative types to keep the local economy growing by making sure there are plenty of opportunities to spark innovative creative collaborations. The annual Berkshire Creative holiday "Sparkle" party seemed especially glamorous this year for it was held at a venerable mansion that is part of the Crane & Co. stationery empire in Dalton, MA. In fact, Crane & Co. worked with Berkshire Creative last year on a "creative challenge" that invited local artists to design new stationery for the renowned company that traces its roots back to the colonial era. At the holiday party, Berkshire Creative co-chairman Kevin Sprague (left) enthusiastically wore a "Creativity Lives Here" sticker on the back of his head; the sticker was the evening's badge of honor for it indicated that a guest was a dues-paying member of Berkshire Creative.
Animator Leo Quiles and Berkshire Living's Mary Garnish; Berkshire Film & Media Commission's Diane Pearlman and The Women's Times' Eugenie Sills.
Studio Two's Heather Pelle Rose with Crane & Co. scion and house stager Allison Crane; New England Film's John Whalan and Cultural Pittsfield's Megan Whilden.
Jacob's Pillow's Jeff Roudabush and Barrington Stage Company's Laura Roudabush.
Jamie & Jen Odegaard; Shakespeare & Company's Enrico Spada & Allissa Wickham
Orion Magazine's managing editor Andrew Blechman, Susie Weeks, and music critic and Berkshire Museum communications director Jeremy Goodwin; real estate broker Nancy Kalodner, Lucy Holland and Malinka Jackson
Photographer Lincoln Russell with Berkshire Creative co-chairs Nancy Fitzpatrick of the Red Lion Inn and marketing guru Kevin Sprague.
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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
