Fiona Breslin reports from Pittsfield.Whether they arrived after having stopped in at the Lichtenstein Center for the opening of Melville Contemporary, part of Pittsfield's Call Me Melville Festival; or after having ogled the classic car show on North Street; or in advance of attending the closing events of the WordXWord Festival, they arrived hungry — for art, conversation, and fine local food prepared by chef Brian Alberg of the Red Lion Inn. All was served up in plentiful portions on Friday, August 18, at Ferrin Gallery during the final event of ArtBerkshires' COVET program, a DISH + DINE salon-style evening hosted by Sienna Patti and Leslie Ferrin. Custom COVET cocktails (the secret ingredient: plum puree) helped stimulate discussion, as did the gorgeous dishes by Molly Hatch on which dinner was served, at a long banquet table punctuated with late-summer floral arrangements in vases by Michael McCarthy. Gallerists Ferrin and Patti acknowledged the participating artists at the table — including Hatch, photographer William Wright, Nicholas Kahn of Kahn & Selesnick, and Kate Roberts -- and encouraged guest curators, including Aprile Gallant of Smith College, Kathleen Morris from The Clark, Emily Zilber, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, as well as Laurie Norton Moffatt from the Norman Rockwell Museum, to share a few words about contemporary art and appropriation.
At the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts: Shawn Stevens and artist JoAnne Spies in front of work by Spies; Jennifer Kimball and artist Ed Pelkey with their daughter Mia Pelkey.
Jesse Tobin and Lillian Tobin nearly blend in with the art; Jennet Cook, Sunday Banks, and Jennifer Gallant.
Pittsfield's director of cultural development Megan Whilden, surrounded by the Brooklyn band Call Me Ishmael, who performed during the reception.
At Ferrin Gallery: Berkshire Creative chair Cathy Deely with Stuart Chase; gallerist Leslie Ferrin with Smith College Museum of Art's Aprile Gallant.
Gallerist Sienna Patti with ceramicist Molly Hatch; ceramicists Kate Roberts and Tara Polansky.
Sculptor Joe Wheaton and The Clark's director of special projects Julie Chase; writer Jeremy Goodwin and photographer Bill Wright.
Translator Ingrid MacGillis and the Norman Rockwell Museum's Laurie Norton Moffat; lively conversation before the meal began.
Written by
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
