Culture Will Be Busting Out All Over During ArtWeek Berkshires
Berkshire County’s five Cultural Districts have collaborated to produce a homegrown festival of the arts.
"Sax Player Gypsy," by Karen Andrews
It’s fun to imagine what an alien from outer space — one culturally minded, of course —would think if dropped into ArtWeek Berkshires Sept. 16-26. From north county to south, there will be art of every genre hanging out everywhere. What the heck, it might wonder — is it always this artistically active? Well, yes — it’s the Berkshires, after all — but perhaps not packed so intensively. For ten days, there will be participation by individuals, informal groups, nonprofits and businesses showcasing, exhibiting, performing, instructing, discussing and otherwise sharing their art with residents and visitors of the Berkshires, including that alien.
It takes more than one village to put something like this on. Artweek Berkshires is a countywide celebration of creativity hosted by the five designated culture districts of Berkshire County. These are specific areas in each town recognized by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as hubs of cultural, artistic, and economic activity. The event, actually, was originally funded at the statewide level; the Berkshires had participated for several years under the ArtWeek Massachusetts banner before COVID stopped it cold. Despite the cancellation of the state event, the cultural districts in downtown Great Barrington, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield and Williamstown decided to collaborate and create a festival to spotlight the county’s local creative economy, cultural treasures, and artistic assets.
“It was always state driven,” said Jen Glockner, director of cultural development for the City of Pittsfield. “As the Berkshires, we always feel way out there for the state. We’re grateful for their template, but we felt we could do it on our own. It was great for the local cultural districts to meet — one of those COVID silver linings. We had a lot of Zoom meetings over the winter, working together to promote our unique cultural mecca. We want to cross promote and encourage people to come to events in more than one town.”
Artist Brandi Dahari at last year's Drive Walk Bike By Art Show. Photo courtesy Jesse Tobin McCauley
Earlier in the summer, 1Berkshire put out the call to artists and organizations, inviting all to submit an event. At last count there were more than 90 on the schedule, and others continue to be added. Many are free or low cost, while others charge for admission. 1Berkshire is hosting the information at Berkshires.org.
The range of events is astounding. To name a few: In north county, “A Beautiful World” is an exhibit of art media by 12-year-old Emily Lyons at Greylock Works. Swap-O-Rama is a free event for artists to give away or sell art materials and equipment they no longer need. Tourists Hotel will offer a sculpture walk to view works and sound sculptures on the trails behind The Airport Rooms. Other artists will be showing their work at The Old Stone Mill Center and various galleries, and offering watercolor painting workshops. The Clark will host a facilitated “Writing by Moonlight” on the Terrace, inviting “free” writing and quiet contemplation of the landscape at night.
Pittsfield will see the return of last year’s successful Drive Walk Bike By Art Show. The city is also spearheading a community concert celebrating essential workers at The Common. Whiskey Road Treat Roadshow will perform and there will be a beer garden on site. The Tell It Slant Poetry Festival will celebrate the poetic legacy of Emily Dickinson in an online event.
Great Barrington and other south county towns will of course throw open the doors of their artists’ studios, offering gallery talks, plus oil painting and paper marbling demonstrations. The 8th Annual Berkshire Pottery Tour includes itself in ArtWeek with a self-guided motor tour of five working pottery studios around the southern Berkshires.
Lenox, which received its Cultural District designation in 2019, is filling in the central county activities with plein air programs offered by the Guild of Berkshire Artists, Edith Wharton discussions at The Mount, and open studios. Gallerist Cassandra Sohn collaborated with the other cultural districts (which was a wonderful experience, she said), all of them brainstorming about different activities. Out of those discussions came Lenox Art Walk, a festival of little villages set up around different parts of Lenox — a plan that will help disperse crowds and allow for physical distancing. About 50 vendors — artists and artisans, food purveyors and others — will participate in the festival-within-a-festival.
Some of the events countywide are online. But most are a welcome excuse to get out and explore, and to reel in visitors to the area at a prime time of the year. Organizers hope ArtWalk gains momentum to keep it going year after year.
“Pick two or three events and make a day of it,” suggested Lindsey Schmid, vice president of tourism and marketing at 1Berkshire. “Make your own art trail and find a restaurant halfway between.”
