Lisa Green reports from Great Barrington. You can’t expect Halloween in the Berkshires to be anything less than artful, and that was fully expressed at L’Atelier Berkshires Art Gallery on Sunday, Oct. 29. Gallerist Natalie Tyler took advantage of the Halloween spirit by combining a come-as-you-please party with an art salon and made it work. Amidst hors d’oeuvres (including caviar and pâté “stations” arranged by Torrey Oates of Amuse Culinary Events) and cocktails, glass artists Iva Kalikow and Debora Coombs spoke about their work, describing their inspiration and techniques, as did painter Michael Allen Lowe. Every couple of minutes, the door creaked open and, from the pouring rain outside, an alter ego of some sort or another stepped into the gallery to be admired by the guests. And if you don’t think it’s a little disconcerting having a conversation with a big toad head, you ought to try it some time. [Above, gallery owner Natalie Tyler and Adam Zamberletti, a.k.a. The Big Lebowski.]
Krysia Kurzyca, an artist and farmer who founded Medicine Buddha Gardens, and Alex Brink, a culinary artist; Misha Gomberg, who is on the staff of Turn Park, and Eric Smith of Eric's Great Gardens.
The featured artists: glass artists Iva Kalikow and Debora Coombs, with painter Michael Allen Lowe.
Lenny Kalikow as Mr. Toad, in a head he had made 30 years ago (which he used to try to get on the David Letterman show); creepy eyeballs swimming in a blood-red punch.
Live Brazilian jazz provided by Vita Kay and Michael Junkins.
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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
