The Berkshire Museum's Festival of Trees is like being in the toy department of some bygone department store (think Marshall Field's or J.L. Hudson) except the only toys are the Alexander Calder push-and-pull toys in one of the adjacent galleries. For the 25th silver anniversary of the festival (sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union) the museum is not only displaying dozens of locally-designed trees but also antique and contemporary silver along with old black-and-white photographs of Pittsfield and contemporary abstract photographs by Sharon Lips. With plentiful hors d'oeuvres supplied by Ye Olde Forge restaurant, everyone at the opening night party enthusiatically ate, drank and made merry.
Mary Garnish of Berkshire Living in a fantastic necklace from the Sienna Gallery in Lenox, with Kris Ronald Anderson.
Artist Eric Drury, who made the seven-foot-star that is hanging in the Crane Room, with Jenn Smith of the Berkshire Eagle; June Ferrin, who made a tree of clear plastic spoons, with her daughter, Leslie Ferrin, the Pittsfield gallery owner.
Photographer Jay Elling of Pittsfield Contemporary with the Berkshire Museum's director of interpretation, Maria Mingalone
Nina & Luke Dallenbach; Tristan Oppliger & Jennifer Poole, who sang Christmas songs a capella in the galleries.
Sharon Polito & Victoria May of Greylock Federal Credit Union, which sponsors the Festival of Trees, with Jayne Bellora; Amy Wolfe with Megan Whilden, Pittsfield's director of cultural development.
Berkshire Museum trustee Donna Krenicki, executive director Stuart Chase, and board president Mary Huth, outside the Crane Room.
Cassie Carmon, Brianna Carmon & Candace Hall with the Berkshire Children & Families Tree; Jennifer & Mike Ward, a Pittsfield city councilor.
Mary & Henry Holt; Blue Q's Paul Boulais with Alyssa Nelson.
Writer and critic Jeremy D. Goodwin with actress Samantha Cullen
Stefanie Motta of Pine Cone Hill with Mariclare Hulbert & Alison Hart of Jacob's Pillow; Gae Elfenbein with State Representative Denis Guyer.
One of the galleries filled with trees.
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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
